# Dataset of NIR, MIR, FIR and NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS of real samples of e-liquids from Malaysia

## TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed dataset of e-liquid samples from Malaysia using multiple analytical techniques to identify their chemical composition.

## Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive dataset combining FTIR, GC-MS, and NMR analyses of real e-liquid samples for regulatory and compositional purposes.

## Key findings

- FTIR spectra identified nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and additives in e-liquids.
- GC-MS detected over 30 volatile compounds, including nicotine derivatives and potentially harmful substances.
- NMR spectroscopy resolved molecular-level details of nicotine forms and flavoring compounds.

## Abstract

This dataset presents comprehensive spectroscopic and chromatographic profiling of 27 e-liquid samples including commercial formulations, a booster, and a nicotine solution (the e-liquids were collected in Ampang Jaya, Malaysia before April 2023). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed across the near-, mid-, and far-infrared ranges (6000–80 cm−1), generating unique transmittance spectra for each sample. These spectra revealed vibrational bands characteristic of nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and various additives, supporting rapid qualitative fingerprinting and comparison through OPUS software. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, conducted using a 600 MHz Bruker spectrometer with cryoprobe, enabled molecular-level identification of sample matrices. Signals from nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavourings were resolved, with spectral expansion in the region of 5.5–10.5 ppm highlighting proton signals that differentiate nicotine forms and concentrations. Meanwhile, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of all samples provided compound identification, detecting over 30 volatile compounds per sample including nicotine, esters, aldehydes, and nicotine-related degradation products. The results, available as chromatograms and tabulated peak profiles, highlight the presence of nicotine (including nicotine-N’-oxide), ethyl maltol, vanillin, and prohibited or potentially harmful compounds such as benzaldehyde derivatives. Collectively, these datasets offer a robust foundation for regulatory of nicotine in Malaysia, compositional fingerprinting, and substances screening of e-liquids using FTIR, GC-MS, and NMR as complementary tools.