Quantifying water activity coefficients in PG and VG mixture solutions: A novel approach for assessing E-liquid hygroscopicity

• Published in: Aerosol science and technology Vol. 58; no. 10; pp. 1157 - 1167
• Main Authors: Cai, Yueyang, Chen, Xiaole, Yao, Jiawen, Yang, Huizhen, Zeng, Fan, Jiang, Xingtao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Taylor & Francis 02.10.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Activity coefficients; Aerosol research; Aerosols; Cari Dutcher; Cigarettes; Deposition; Electronic cigarettes; Hygroscopicity; Mass ratios; Mixtures; Parameters; Propylene; Relative humidity; Respiratory tract; Water activity
• ISSN: 0278-6826; 1521-7388
• DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2024.2378909

The efficient delivery of nicotine in e-cigarette aerosols depends on the deposition efficiency of these aerosols within the respiratory tract. Accurate prediction of the hygroscopic growth of e-cigarette aerosols is pivotal to understanding their deposition. This study introduces a novel experimental approach to quantify the water activity coefficient, which is a crucial parameter governing the extent of hygroscopic growth in e-cigarette aerosols. Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are the primary components of e-liquid so that are used as the experimental subjects. Our findings reveal intriguing trends in the behavior of PG and VG mixtures. As relative humidity (RH) increases, these mixtures exhibit elevated equilibrium mass fractions of water accompanied by a decrease in water activity coefficients. Moreover, higher initial PG/VG mass ratios lead to decreased mass fractions of water and increased water activity coefficients. Notably, solution pH also impacts water activity coefficients, with higher pH levels corresponding to increased coefficients. The results reveal the factors which can affect the hygroscopic growth of e-cigarette aerosols, thus contributing to the understanding of the deposition of such aerosols within the respiratory tract. Moreover, the experimental apparatus proposed in this study provides a straightforward and reliable method to obtain hygroscopic parameters of multicomponent solutions. Copyright © 2024 American Association for Aerosol Research