Liquid aerosol formulation of an electronic smoking article

Abstract

A liquid aerosol formulation for an electronic smoking article includes an aerosol former, water, nicotine, and an acid including tartaric acid. The acid is included in an amount sufficient to provide the liquid aerosol formulation with a pH ranging from about 4 to about 8.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid aerosol formulation operative in an electronic smoking article having a heater operating temperature comprising:
 an aerosol former;   water in an amount of 0% to about 40% by weight based on the weight of the liquid aerosol formulation;   nicotine in an amount of at least about 2% by weight based on the weight of the liquid aerosol formulation; and   an acid having a melting point and/or a boiling point of at least about 150° C. and such that the acid volatilizes at the heater operating temperature and is condensable at ambient temperatures, the at least one acid being included in an amount sufficient to provide the liquid aerosol formulation with a pH ranging from about 4 to about 8;   wherein the liquid aerosol formulation forms an aerosol having a particulate phase and a gas phase when heated during operation of the electronic smoking article, the particulate phase containing protonated nicotine and the gas phase containing unprotonated nicotine, the gas phase nicotine content of the aerosol being less than about 1% of a total nicotine content of the aerosol.