Method of generating an aerosol having protonated nicotine

Abstract

A method of generating an aerosol comprising protonated nicotine, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine as free base; (ii) providing a carbon dioxide source capable of providing carbon dioxide in situ; (iii) vaporizing or aerosolizing the nicotine formulation; (iv) providing carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source, and (v) contacting the carbon dioxide with the vaporized or aerosolized nicotine formulation to thereby protonate nicotine free base and generate an aerosol comprising protonated nicotine.

1 . A method of generating an aerosol comprising protonated nicotine, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine as free base;   (ii) providing a carbon dioxide source capable of providing carbon dioxide in situ;   (iii) vaporising or aerosolising the nicotine formulation;   (iv) providing carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source, and   (v) contacting the carbon dioxide with the vaporised or aerosolised nicotine formulation to thereby protonate nicotine free base and generate an aerosol comprising protonated nicotine.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the nicotine formulation contains the carbon dioxide source. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the nicotine formulation is distinct from the carbon dioxide source. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1, 2 or 3  wherein the nicotine formulation contains nicotine substantially in free base form. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to any one of  claims 1 to 4  wherein the nicotine formulation further comprises a carrier. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the carrier is a solvent. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the solvent is selected from glycerol, propylene glycol, 1,3-propane diol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to any one of  claims 1 to 7  wherein the nicotine formulation further comprises water. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of  claims 1 to 8  wherein the nicotine formulation comprises nicotine in an amount of no greater than 2 wt % based on the total weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to any one of  claims 1 to 9  wherein the nicotine formulation comprises nicotine in an amount of no greater than 1.8 wt % based on the total weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         11 . A nicotine delivery system comprising
 (i) a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine; and   (ii) a carbon dioxide precursor capable of forming carbon dioxide, wherein the carbon dioxide precursor is an electrolyte.   
     
     
         12 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 10  wherein the electrolyte is an electrolyte solution of one more compounds selected from carbonic acid and salts thereof, organic acids and salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 12  wherein the electrolyte is an electrolyte solution of one more compounds selected from carbonate salts, hydrogen carbonate salts, organic acids and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 13  wherein the electrolyte is an electrolyte solution of an organic acid. 
     
     
         15 . A nicotine delivery system according to any one of  claims 12 to 14  wherein the organic acid is at least acetic acid. 
     
     
         16 . A nicotine delivery system according to any one of  claims 12 to 15  wherein organic acid is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 wt % based on the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         17 . A nicotine delivery system according to any one of  claims 11 to 16 , wherein the electrolyte further comprises a flavour compound. 
     
     
         18 . A nicotine delivery system according to any one of  claims 11 to 17 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt. 
     
     
         19 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 17 , wherein the salt is selected from sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A nicotine delivery system comprising
 (i) a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine; and   (ii) a carbon dioxide precursor capable of forming carbon dioxide;
 wherein the carbon dioxide precursor is a couple of (a) one or more carbonate salts, one or more hydrogen carbonate salts or a mixture thereof; and (b) one or more acids. 
   
     
     
         21 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 19  wherein the couple is (a) one or more hydrogen carbonate salts and (b) one or more organic acids. 
     
     
         22 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 20  wherein the one or more hydrogen carbonate salts is selected from sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 20, 21 or 22  wherein the one or more acids is selected from acetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, glutaric acid, malonic acid, hydrochloric acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, levulinic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A nicotine delivery system comprising
 (i) a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine; and   (ii) a carbon dioxide precursor capable of forming carbon dioxide;
 wherein the carbon dioxide precursor is selected from a carbonate, hydrogen carbonate or mixture thereof that thermally degrades to form carbon dioxide. 
   
     
     
         25 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 24 , wherein the carbon dioxide precursor is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogen carbonate, copper carbonate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A nicotine delivery system comprising
 (i) a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine; and   (ii) a carbon dioxide source that comprises carbon dioxide in the liquid or gas phase.   
     
     
         27 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 26 , wherein the carbon dioxide source comprises carbon dioxide in the gas phase. 
     
     
         28 . A nicotine delivery system according to  claim 26 , wherein the carbon dioxide source comprises carbon dioxide in the liquid phase. 
     
     
         29 . A nicotine delivery system comprising
 (i) a formulation; and   (ii) a container of compressed carbon dioxide;   wherein the formulation, the carbon dioxide or both, contain nicotine.   
     
     
         30 . An electronic vapour provision system comprising (a) a nicotine delivery system comprising (i) a formulation; and (ii) a container of compressed carbon dioxide; (b) a vaporiser for vaporising the formulation for inhalation by a user of the electronic vapour provision system; a power supply comprising a cell or battery for supplying power to the vaporiser; wherein the formulation, the carbon dioxide or both, contain nicotine. 
     
     
         31 . A contained nicotine formulation comprising
 (a) one or more containers; and   (b) a nicotine delivery system as defined in any one of claims  10  to  29 .   
     
     
         32 . A contained nicotine formulation according to  claim 28  wherein the container is configured for engagement with an electronic vapour provision system. 
     
     
         33 . An electronic vapour provision system comprising:
 a nicotine delivery system as defined in any one of  claims 10 to 29 ;   a vaporiser for vaporising the nicotine formulation for inhalation by a user of the electronic vapour provision system;   a power supply comprising a cell or battery for supplying power to the vaporiser.   
     
     
         34 . Use of carbon dioxide for improving sensory properties of a vaporised nicotine formulation. 
     
     
         35 . Use of carbon dioxide for reducing the amount of gas phase nicotine produced in an aerosol by a vaporised nicotine formulation.