Method for adjusting the nicotine content in an e-cigarette aerosol

Abstract

A method for adjusting nicotine content of aerosol in an inhaler comprises: a feeding step in which at least one liquid having a first nicotine content is fed from a vaporizer tank to an electric vaporizer; a vaporizing step in which the at least one liquid is vaporized producing an aerosol; and a dispensing step in which a final aerosol consisting of a combination of all aerosols formed in the inhaler from the at least one liquid is dispensed from the inhaler to a user, wherein: at least one of the at least one liquid comprises a precursor substance capable of being converted into nicotine by a chemical reaction; and the method further comprises a nicotine generation step in which said precursor substance is converted into nicotine by the chemical reaction so that the final aerosol comprises a second nicotine content higher than the first nicotine content.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for adjusting nicotine content of aerosol in an inhaler, the method comprising the following steps:
 a feeding step in which at least one liquid having a first nicotine content is fed from a vaporizer tank to an electric vaporizer;   a vaporizing step in which the at least one liquid is vaporized producing an aerosol; and   a dispensing step in which a final aerosol consisting of a combination of all aerosols formed in the inhaler from the at least one liquid is dispensed from the inhaler to a user, wherein:
 at least one of the at least one liquid comprises a precursor substance capable of being converted into nicotine by a chemical reaction; and 
 the method further comprises a nicotine generation step in which said precursor substance is converted into nicotine by the chemical reaction so that the final aerosol comprises a second nicotine content higher than the first nicotine content. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chemical reaction is an oxidation reaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chemical reaction is a reduction reaction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the nicotine generation step takes place before the vaporizing step, after the vaporizing step, or simultaneously with the vaporizing step. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the precursor substance comprises cotinine or nicotine N′-oxide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the precursor substance comprises nicotine glucoronide or nornicotine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the method is carried out in the inhaler;   the inhaler comprises the vaporizer tank with at least two vaporizer tank chambers; and   each vaporizer tank chamber is configured to be assigned to a respective vaporizer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a first liquid of the at least one liquids contains nicotine and wherein the precursor substance is contained either in the first liquid or in a second liquid of the at least one liquids. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least two liquids are used, the at least two liquids comprising a first liquid containing nicotine and a further liquid containing a reactant, wherein the reactant causes the conversion of the precursor substance into nicotine. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the reactant is provided in a contact element and wherein, in the nicotine production step, the precursor substance is brought into contact with the reactant in the contact element. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the conversion of the precursor substance into nicotine is carried out using a catalyst. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the conversion of the precursor substance into nicotine is carried out using an enzyme.