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Fabrication and Validation of an Economical, Programmable, Dual-Channel, Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Generator

Author

Listed:
  • Dominic L. Palazzolo

    (Department of Physiology, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA)

  • Jordan Caudill

    (Department of Physiology, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA)

  • James Baron

    (Department of Physiology, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA)

  • Kevin Cooper

    (Department of Chemistry and Physics, School of Mathematics & Sciences, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA)

Abstract

Vaping (inhalation of electronic cigarette-generated aerosol) is a public health concern. Due to recent spikes in adolescent use of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) and vaping-induced illnesses, demand for scientific inquiry into the physiological effects of electronic cigarette (ECIG) aerosol has increased. For such studies, standardized and consistent aerosol production is required. Many labs generate aerosol by manually activating peristaltic pumps and ECIG devices simultaneously in a predefined manner. The tedium involved with this process (large puff number over time) and risk of error in keeping with puff topography (puff number, duration, interval) are less than optimal. Furthermore, excess puffing on an ECIG device results in battery depletion, reducing aerosol production, and ultimately, its chemical and physical nature. While commercial vaping machines are available, the cost of these machines is prohibitive to many labs. For these reasons, an economical and programmable ECIG aerosol generator, capable of generating aerosol from two atomizers simultaneously, was fabricated, and subsequently validated. Validation determinants include measurements of atomizer temperatures (inside and outside), electrical parameters (current, resistance and power) of the circuitry, aerosol particle distribution (particle counts and mass concentrations) and aerosol delivery (indexed by nicotine recovery), all during stressed conditions of four puffs/minute for 75 min (i.e., 300 puffs). Validation results indicate that the ECIG aerosol generator is better suited for experiments involving ≤100 puffs. Over 100 puffs, the amount of variation in the parameters measured tends to increase. Variations between channels are generally higher than variations within a channel. Despite significant variations in temperatures, electrical parameters, and aerosol particle distributions, both within and between channels, aerosol delivery remains remarkably stable for up to 300 puffs, yielding over 25% nicotine recovery for both channels. In conclusion, this programmable, dual-channel ECIG aerosol generator is not only affordable, but also allows the user to control puff topography and eliminate battery drain of ECIG devices. Consequently, this aerosol generator is valid, reliable, economical, capable of using a variety of E-liquids and amenable for use in a vast number of studies investigating the effects of ECIG-generated aerosol while utilizing a multitude of puffing regimens in a standardized manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Dominic L. Palazzolo & Jordan Caudill & James Baron & Kevin Cooper, 2021. "Fabrication and Validation of an Economical, Programmable, Dual-Channel, Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Generator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-26, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13190-:d:702529
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dominic Palazzolo & John M. Nelson & Zuri Hudson, 2019. "The Use of HPLC-PDA in Determining Nicotine and Nicotine-Related Alkaloids from E-Liquids: A Comparison of Five E-Liquid Brands Purchased Locally," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Humidah Alanazi & Abdelhabib Semlali & Witold Chmielewski & Mahmoud Rouabhia, 2019. "E-Cigarettes Increase Candida albicans Growth and Modulate its Interaction with Gingival Epithelial Cells," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Sébastien Soulet & Charly Pairaud & Hélène Lalo, 2017. "A Novel Vaping Machine Dedicated to Fully Controlling the Generation of E-Cigarette Emissions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Qutaiba M. Saleh & Edward C. Hensel & Risa J. Robinson, 2020. "Method for Quantifying Variation in the Resistance of Electronic Cigarette Coils," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Evan Floyd & Sara Greenlee & Toluwanimi Oni & Balaji Sadhasivam & Lurdes Queimado, 2021. "The Effect of Flow Rate on a Third-Generation Sub-Ohm Tank Electronic Nicotine Delivery System—Comparison of CORESTA Flow Rates to More Realistic Flow Rates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Qutaiba M. Saleh & Edward C. Hensel & Nathan C. Eddingsaas & Risa J. Robinson, 2021. "Effects of Manufacturing Variation in Electronic Cigarette Coil Resistance and Initial Pod Mass on Coil Lifetime and Aerosol Generation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    7. Sébastien Soulet & Marie Duquesne & Jean Toutain & Charly Pairaud & Hélène Lalo, 2018. "Influence of Coil Power Ranges on the E-Liquid Consumption in Vaping Devices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, August.
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