Nicotine ditartrate dihydrate stands out as a crystalline chemical compound created by combining nicotine base with tartaric acid and water. It holds a spot in both research and manufacturing labs, often showing up as a raw material in pharmaceutical applications and sometimes in the nicotine replacement products sector. Nicotine serves as the main active component, but pairing it with tartaric acid changes its properties, including solubility and stability. This adjustment helps manufacturers control dosage more precisely across both research and applied settings.
This material takes shape as a solid, most often appearing as colorless to pale yellow powder, flakes, or sometimes small crystalline pearls. Nicotine ditartrate dihydrate does not form a true liquid at room temperature, sticking instead to its solid state unless exposed to deliberate heating or dissolved in a suitable solvent. Most samples show a density around 1.2 g/cm³, depending on specific manufacturing conditions and purity level. Its crystalline nature comes from the particular arrangement of nicotine and tartrate ions, stabilized by water molecules — this arrangement supports both its storage and its use in controlled dosing systems.
The molecular formula for nicotine ditartrate dihydrate reads as C10H14N2·2C4H6O6·2H2O, pointing to a structure containing one molecule of nicotine, two tartaric acid units, and two water molecules. This composition delivers a molecular weight of about 504.4 g/mol. These measurements matter when precision matters — anyone manufacturing pharmaceutical intermediates or nicotine carriers wants their calculations spot on, and this data fills in those blanks. To import or export, the Harmonized System Code (HS Code) often used is 29399990, recognized for its application across chemical raw materials and intermediates.
People sometimes get surprised by the neutral odor given its base in nicotine, known for a sharp and pungent smell when pure. The presence of water, known as the dihydrate state, not only changes appearance but also improves handling and stability compared to nicotine tartrate forms without water. The compound dissolves well in water, allowing easy preparation of solutions at various concentrations. This trait supports versatile application, especially where accurate measurement and blending play essential roles, whether metering into laboratory beakers or scaling up to industrial batch mixers.
Despite legitimate uses, nicotine ditartrate dihydrate remains a harmful chemical. Nicotine acts as a strong stimulant, toxic in even modest amounts, and improper handling brings health risks. Skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of dust can result in symptoms ranging from nausea and increased heart rate to more troubling systemic reactions. Workers are required to use gloves, eye protection, and well-ventilated environments, and emergency protocols recommend immediate action if contamination occurs. Proper storage means locking away the chemical in sealed bottles or fiber drums, away from heat and strong acids or oxidizers. Chemicals like these always demand respect, and training forms part of any responsible facility’s routine.
As a raw material, nicotine ditartrate dihydrate goes beyond single-purpose use. Production of nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches often relies on this salt because of its controlled release profile and easy blending with excipients. Researchers preparing new nicotine delivery models or pharmaceutical products depend on chemical stability and solubility, and this compound shows a track record that matches many technical requirements. Companies involved in chemical synthesis sometimes use it as a nicotine source, appreciating the safety improvements over working with volatile nicotine base.
In applied settings, dissolving nicotine ditartrate dihydrate in water allows for straightforward preparation of reference solutions or calibration materials. This trait supports labs running quality control or developing new test methods. The powder, thanks to its controlled particle size, disperses quickly and dissolves without much coaxing. Formulators focused on consumer safety and manufacturing efficiency keep their eyes on such details, as any step that reduces dust and waste matters both for bottom-line reasons and worker safety.
Markets and regulations worldwide keep a spotlight on nicotine products, forcing suppliers and users alike to keep up with shifting legal requirements. Documentation detailing the material’s specifications, MSDS sheets outlining hazards, and compliance with countries’ chemical registration laws can mean the difference between a smooth import and a shipment stuck at the port. Attention to packaging, transport, and end-user education rounds out the practical concerns companies face daily, especially as the world expects stricter stewardship of hazardous raw materials.
Efforts to maintain safe supply chains for nicotine ditartrate dihydrate rest on transparency, regular testing for purity, and investment in training for anyone coming in contact with this compound. Companies focusing on high safety standards invest in equipment that controls exposure risk, like fume hoods and closed dispensing systems, as well as digital tracking for robust traceability. Balancing market demand with a firm commitment to health and environmental protection remains critical, as the risks tied to nicotine never go away with one-time solutions. The right protocols help protect both people and business interests across the entire industry, encouraging responsible use and stewardship of all chemical raw materials, not just the ones that happen to be in high demand.