Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are a recent trend that has spark interest in young adults and teens. Due to the recent growth of electronic cigarette companies and their low manufacturing costs, this has allowed the entry-level price point to be drastically low allowing for teens and adults to become users. These products deliver an addictive dose of nicotine and, in the last years, have caused unexpected pulmonary complications that have often resulted in hospitalization. This project is a three-part study that aims to identify contaminants, nicotine concentration, and the psychological reasoning behind vaping. The first part of the study is a statistical overview of the population of students that do smoke and the psychological reason for them starting. This study focuses on the students at University of Central Florida. The second part is the utilization of analytical methods to determine the nicotine concentration and identify any contaminants found in electronic cigarette liquids. This part utilizes gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Additionally, all chemicals that are identified using the GCMS are thoroughly reviewed to determine its usefulness in the electronic cigarette liquid and its effect on the human body. Acid-base titrations are used by many companies and by avid "DIY" vape users to determine the nicotine concentration in the liquid that has been manufactured. This method is very inaccurate and can only give a rough estimate of the nicotine concentration. The third part uses acid-base titrations to determine the nicotine concentration of the electronic cigarette liquids and compare them to the analytic data found in the previous test that utilizes gas chromatography.

Thesis Completion

2021

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Hashim, Alaa

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Language

English

Access Status

Campus Access

Length of Campus-only Access

5 years

Release Date

5-1-2026

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