VASELINE
PETROLEUM JELLY = VASELINE = PETROLATUM = WHITE PETROLATUM = SOFT PARAFFIN = Multi-hydrocarbon
Synonyms: PETROLATUM, VASELINE
Chemical Names: PURIFIED MIXTURE OF SEMI-SOLID SATURATED HYDROCARBONS, MAINLY OF PARAFFINIC NATURE, OBTAINED FROM PETROLEUM
VASELINE is a complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained as a semi-solid from dewaxing paraffinic residual oil.
VASELINE is a colloidal system of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from PETROLEUM. Petroleum jelly is used as an ointment base, topical protectant, and lubricant.
VASELINE consists predominantly of saturated crystalline and liquid hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly greater than C25
CAS no.: 8009-03-8
EC / List no.: 232-373-2
Mol. formula: C86H142.
Synonyms:
ewalin 1702
paraffin jelly
pennsoline soft yellow
penreco white
red petrolatum
white petrolatum
yellow petrolatum
petrolatum white
petroleum jelly
saxoline
white vaseline
vasoliment
Trade names
Lily,Cream
Amber
Blond
COX TEC
Ceresin
Ceresine 65
Ceresine 70
Ceresine 75
MERKUR
PARAFINA OLEOSA BS
PETAX
PETROLATUM
PETROLEUM JELLY
Petrolatum
Petrolatum PZS
Royal
SOFT PARAFFIN
Special, Regent
Super
Ultima, Snow
VARA
Origin(s): Synthetic, Mineral
Other languages: Vaselina, Vaseline (Gelée de pétrole)
INCI name: PETROLATUM
EINECS/ELINCS number: 232-373-2
Comedogenic potential (pc): 5
Food additive: E905b
Classification: Regulated, Mineral oil
Variable composition of saturated hydrocarbons (number of carbons usually greater than 25) depending on petroleum source and method of refining; Industrial grades (less refined) may have impurities including polycyclic aromatics; [ICSC] Used as lubricant, food additive (protective coatings and defoaming and release agent), emollient base (ointments, creams, and lotions), carrier for rust preventatives, protective dressing, perfume extractor, and softener for rubber compounds; Used in leather grease, shoe polish, modeling clays, cosmetics, insect repellents, treatment of food producing animals, and to make carbon paper; [HSDB] Used in liquid form (white mineral oil) as a laxative, textile lubricant, and dispersing agent; [Hawley]
Synonyms: Petrolatum amber; Petrolatum white; Cosmoline; Cream white; Extra Amber; Mineral fat; Mineral grease (petrolatum); Mineral jelly; Mineral wax; Paraffin jelly; Pennsoline Soft Yellow; Penreco White; Perfecta; Petrolatum USP; Petrolatum, amber; Petrolatum, white; Petrolatum, yellow; Petroleum jelly; Protopet, Alba; Protopet, White 1S; Protopet, White 2L; Saxoline; Snow White; Soft paraffin; Ultima White; Vaseline; Vasoliment; White petrolatum; White petrolatum USP; White petroleum jelly; White Protopet; White vaseline; Yellow petrolatum; [ChemIDplus]
Petrolatum, better known as Vaseline (or petroleum jelly), is used in cosmetics in lip balms, 13% contain. It is also found in lipsticks, moisturizing creams or in hair care. This pure petroleum derivative, more and more controversial, is subject to drastic regulation.
Solubility: VASELINE is insoluble in water, easily soluble in carbon dioxide, soluble in ether and hexane (OT-42).
Chemical properties:
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) is a white, yellow or light amber semisolid fatty substance.
Petroleum jelly is transparent when thin-layered, slightly fluorescent.
Petroleum jelly is insoluble in water, almost insoluble in cold or hot ethanol and cold anhydrous ethanol.
Petroleum jelly is soluble in ether, hexane and most volatile or non-volatile oil; easily soluble in benzene, carbon disulfide, chloroform and turpentine.
Petrolatum (Vaseline) is the malthenes purified from lubrication oil, the mixture of residue oil and cerate.
Petroleum jelly is an important lubricant for medicines, cosmetics, fine chemical raw materials and precision instruments.
In China, major vaseline products include ordinary vaseline, industrial vaseline and medical vaseline.
Ordinary vaseline is suitable for the preparation of various ointments and softener of dark rubber products; industrial vaseline can be used to protect metal products and general machinery parts against rust and lubricate machines under light loads, but also can be used as treating compound for leather and rubber softener.
Vaseline products are mainly concentrated in the medicinal Vaseline, which is divided into two: medical white vaseline and medical yellow Vaseline.
Medical Vaseline is mainly used in the preparation of ointment, skin protection cream and cosmetics raw materials, as well as antirust and lubricating materials for medical instruments and precision instruments.
Petrolatum is essentially mineral oil jelly and it is more commonly referred to as petroleum jelly.
A wide variety of moisturizers use it as a main ingredient because it forms a barrier that locks moisture into the skin.
In addition, it is used in many different hair care products because of its propensity to provide the hair with shine.
A number of individuals also use it for treating chapped lips and toenail fungus.
Initially, the jelly was used primarily as an ointment to treat cuts, burns and scrapes; however, several studies were conducted by physicians and the findings have indicated that the product is not absorbed by the skin and it has absolutely no direct effect on the blistering process.
The effectiveness of petrolatum in accelerating the healing of wounds stems from its capacity to seal burns and cuts, thereby preventing moisture from evaporating from the skin and inhibiting germs from entering the wound.
VASELINE is made by the waxy petroleum material that formed on oil rigs and distilling it.
The lighter and thinner oil-based products make up petroleum jelly, also known as white petrolatum or simply as petrolatum.
Robert Chesebrough is the chemist who devised and patented this process (U.S. Patent 127,568) in 1872.
Basically, the crude material undergoes vacuum distillation. The still residue is then filtered through bone char to yield petroleum jelly.
At room temperature, petroleum jelly is an odorless semi-solid which consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
The primary hydrocarbon is 1,1,2-Trimethylbenzeindole (C15H15N), which has a CAS number 8009-03-8.
VASELINE Uses
VASELINE is an ingredient in many cosmetics and lotions. Originally it was marketed as a burn ointment. While petroleum jelly does not cure burns or other wounds, it does seal a cleaned burn or injury off from contamination or further infection. Petroleum jelly also may be applied to dry or chapped skin to seal in moisture. A variation known as red veterinary petroleum confers some protection against UV (ultraviolet) exposure and has been used as a sunscreen.
Petroleum jelly = Vaseline is white or yellow homogeneous paste, almost odorless and tasteless, a mixture of liquid and solid paraffin hydrocarbons.
Relative density: 0.815~0.830, viscosity: 0.01 ~ 0.02 Pa•s (100℃), flash point > 190℃ (open type), drop point: about 37~54℃.
Petroleum jelly is easy to dissolve in ethyl ether, petroleum ether, fatty oil, benzene, carbon disulfide, chloroform and turpentine, difficult to dissolve in ethanol and almost insoluble in water.
Petroleum jelly is heated into a transparent liquid, which can be fluorescent in the dark after ultraviolet radiation.
Uses: With the characteristics of no color or smell, chemical inertness, semisolid, lipophilic property and good adhesion, it is suitable to manufacture substrates of hair cream, hair conditioner, eye cream, lipstick, wax matrix and so on.
Medical petrolatum (vaseline) can be widely used as the matrix of ointment because it is almost compatible with all drugs without changes in drugs.
Hydrophilic vaseline can be prepared by adding alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and cholesterol after heated fusion and sufficient stir.
Hydrophilic vaseline is an ointment base with strong permeability, stability and small stimulation.
This ointment matrix can be used alone for dry skin rash, erythema, papules and other diseases, especially for the removal of blood scab and desquamation.
Vaseline can also be used as a non-ionic emulsifier to be compatible with cholesterol, so the range of compatibility is very wide.
In addition, Petroleum jelly (vaseline) can be compatible with liquid drugs or aqueous solutions of drugs because of its absorbability.
Industrial vaseline can be used as rubber softener, anti-rust of metal devices and raw material of rust proof grease.
Uses: Defoamer; lubricant; release agent; protective coating.
VASELINE is suitable for preparing ingredients of medicine ointment and skin protection cream.
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) can be used for the anticorrosion of mechanical equipments, metal and parts, especially precision instruments, medical equipment and other advanced products. It can be used as lubricating grease in anti-attrition parts of machines when the temperature is not high and the mechanical load is not large. It can be used as the ingredients of high-end cosmetics and other daily necessities, such as skin care cream, hair cream, lipstick pomade ,etc.
Consumer Uses
VASELINE is used in the following products: lubricants and greases, adhesives and sealants, polishes and waxes, cosmetics and personal care products, perfumes and fragrances and fuels.
Other release to the environment of this substance is likely to occur from: indoor use as processing aid, outdoor use as processing aid, outdoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, lubricants in motor oil and break fluids) and indoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. cooling liquids in refrigerators, oil-based electric heaters).
Petroleum jelly (also called petrolatum) is a mixture of mineral oils and waxes, which form a semisolid jelly-like substance.
This product hasn’t changed much since Robert Augustus Chesebrough discovered it in 1859. Chesebrough noticed that oil workers would use a gooey jelly to heal their wounds and burns. He eventually packaged this jelly as Vaseline.
Petroleum jelly’s benefits come from its main ingredient petroleum, which helps seal your skin with a water-protective barrier.
This helps your skin heal and retain moisture
Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin, or multi-hydrocarbon, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons (with carbon numbers mainly higher than 25), originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties.
The Vaseline brand is a well known American brand of petroleum jelly since 1870.
After petroleum jelly became a medicine chest staple, consumers began to use it for cosmetic purposes and for many ailments including toenail fungus, genital rashes (non-STD), nosebleeds, diaper rash, and common colds.
Its folkloric medicinal value as a “cure-all” has since been limited by better scientific understanding of appropriate and inappropriate uses.
It is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an approved over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant and remains widely used in cosmetic skin care (where it is often loosely referred to as mineral oil).
Native Americans discovered the use of petroleum jelly for protecting and healing skin.
Sophisticated oil pits had been built as early as 1415–1450 in Western Pennsylvania.
In 1859, workers operating the United States of America’s first oil rigs noticed a paraffin-like material forming on rigs in the course of investigating malfunctions.
Believing the substance hastened healing, the workers used the jelly on cuts and burns.
Robert Chesebrough, a young chemist whose previous work of distilling fuel from the oil of sperm whales had been rendered obsolete by petroleum, went to Titusville, Pennsylvania, US, to see what new materials had commercial potential.
Chesebrough took the unrefined black “rod wax”, as the drillers called it, back to his laboratory to refine it and explore potential uses.
He discovered that by distilling the lighter, thinner oil products from the rod wax, he could create a light-colored gel.
Chesebrough patented the process of making petroleum jelly by U.S. Patent 127,568 in 1872.
The process involved vacuum distillation of the crude material followed by filtration of the still residue through bone char.
Chesebrough traveled around New York demonstrating the product to encourage sales by burning his skin with acid or an open flame, then spreading the ointment on his injuries and showing his past injuries healed, he claimed, by his miracle product.
He opened his first factory in 1870 in Brooklyn using the name Vaseline.
Physical properties
Petroleum jelly is a mixture of hydrocarbons, with a melting point that depends on the exact proportions.
The melting point is typically between 40 and 70 °C (105 and 160 °F).
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) is flammable only when heated to liquid; then the fumes will light, not the liquid itself, so a wick material like leaves, bark, or small twigs is needed to ignite petroleum jelly.
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) is colorless (or of a pale yellow color when not highly distilled), translucent, and devoid of taste and smell when pure.
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) does not oxidize on exposure to the air and is not readily acted on by chemical reagents.
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) is insoluble in water. It is soluble in dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene, diethyl ether, carbon disulfide and turpentine.
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) acts as a plasticizer on polypropylene (PP), but is compatible with most other plastics[citation needed].
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) is a semi-solid, in that it holds its shape indefinitely like a solid, but it can be forced to take the shape of its container without breaking apart, like a liquid, though it does not flow on its own.
Depending on the specific application of petroleum jelly, it may be USP, B.P., or Ph. Eur. grade.
This pertains to the processing and handling of the petroleum jelly so it is suitable for medicinal and personal-care applications.
Uses
Most uses of petroleum jelly exploit its lubricating and coating properties, including use on dry lips and dry skin.
Pharmaceutical Applications: Petrolatum is mainly used in topical pharmaceutical formulations as an emollient-ointment base; it is poorly absorbed by the skin.
VASELINE is also used in creams and transdermal formulations and as an ingredient in lubricant formulations for medicated confectionery together with mineral oil.
Therapeutically, sterile gauze dressings containing petrolatum may be used for nonadherent wound dressings or as a packing material.
Petrolatum is additionally widely used in cosmetics and in some food applications.
Uses: Pharmaceutic aid (ointment base, oleaginous); Protectant (topical).
Uses: petrolatum (petroleum jelly; Vaseline) softens and smoothes the skin. It forms a film on the skin’s surface, preventing moisture loss caused by evaporation, and protecting against irritation. Its disadvantage lies in the difficulty of effectively and properly removing it from the skin. Studies indicate that petrolatum accelerates the recovery of skin surface lipids, permeating throughout the stratum corneum layer, and allowing normal barrier recovery despite its occlusive properties. Thus it does not form or act as an impermeable membrane. It is a purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons from petroleum. Petrolatum imparts a greasier feeling than other emollients and also has the potential for clogging pores and causing comedogenicity. Although it can cause allergic skin rashes, petrolatum is non-toxic to the skin when properly purified and of high grade.
Uses: VASELINE is a release agent, lubricant, and defoaming agent that is a purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petro- leum. it varies in color from white to yellow. it is used in bakery products, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, and egg white solids.
Below are some other examples of the uses of petroleum jelly :
Medical treatment
Vaseline brand First Aid Petroleum Jelly, or carbolated petroleum jelly containing phenol to give the jelly additional antibacterial effect, has been discontinued.
During World War II, a variety of petroleum jelly called red veterinary petrolatum, or Red Vet Pet for short, was often included in life raft survival kits.
Acting as a sunscreen, it provides protection against ultraviolet rays.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends keeping skin injuries moist with petroleum jelly to reduce scarring.
A verified medicinal use is to protect and prevent moisture loss of the skin of a patient in the initial post-operative period following laser skin resurfacing.
There is one case report published in 1994 indicating petroleum jelly should not be applied to the inside of the nose due to the risk of lipid pneumonia, but this was only ever reported in one patient.
However, petroleum jelly is used extensively by otolaryngologists—ear, nose, and throat surgeons—for nasal moisture and epistaxis treatment, and to combat nasal crusting.
Large studies have found petroleum jelly applied to the nose for short durations to have no significant side effects.
Historically, it was also consumed for internal use and even promoted as “Vaseline confection”.
Functions:
Carrier for active ingredients
Skin protectant from dehydration
Base material for many applications
Universal excipient
Applications:
Color cosmetics
Anhydrous formulas
Lipsticks and lip balms
Skincare (eg creams, lotions, ointments, etc)
Hair care (eg pomades)
Baby care
Sun protection
Cold rubs & pain relief treatments
The skin is the body’s largest organ, so it’s important to take good care of it.
However, doing so doesn’t necessarily mean breaking the bank.
In fact, a common, inexpensive product found in most people’s medicine cabinets, petroleum jelly, can have multiple skin care uses for the entire family.
To save on skin care, dermatologists recommend using petroleum jelly to:
Relieve dry skin, including your lips and eyelids. Dry skin can flake, itch, crack and even bleed.
Since ointments are more effective and less irritating than lotions, consider applying petroleum jelly to dry skin, including your lips and eyelids.
The skin on your eyelids is the thinnest skin on the body and can get irritated easily.
If your eyelids get dry and flaky, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly for moisture and protection.
For the best results, always apply petroleum jelly when your skin is damp.
Help injured skin heal. For minor wounds such as cuts, scrapes, and scratches, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist.
This helps prevent the wound from drying out and forming a scab, as scabs take longer to heal.
This will also help prevent a scar from getting too large, deep or itchy.
s long as the wound is cleaned daily, it is not necessary to use anti-bacterial ointments.
Prevent chafing. Chafing is a painful skin irritation that occurs when body parts rub together or rub against clothing.
To prevent chafing that can lead to blisters, apply petroleum jelly to problem areas, such as the feet or thighs.
Treat diaper rash. The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep your baby’s skin as dry and clean as possible.
However, if your baby does get a rash, apply petroleum jelly during each diaper change.
With the right care, your baby’s rash should clear in about three to four days.
If the rash doesn’t go away, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Rehydrate nails. If you frequently get manicures and pedicures, apply petroleum jelly to your nails and cuticles in between polishes.
This will minimize brittleness and help prevent your nails from chipping.
For the best results, apply it when your nails are damp.
Skin and hair care
Most petroleum jelly today is used as an ingredient in skin lotions and cosmetics, providing various types of skin care and protection by minimizing friction or reducing moisture loss, or by functioning as a grooming aid, e. g. pomade.
It’s also widely used for treating dry scalp and dandruff.
Preventing moisture loss
By reducing moisture loss, petroleum jelly can prevent chapped hands and lips, and soften nail cuticles.
This property is exploited to provide heat insulation: petroleum jelly can be used to keep swimmers warm in water when training or during channel crossings or long ocean swims.
It can prevent chilling of the face due to evaporation of skin moisture during cold weather outdoor sports.
Hair grooming
In the first part of the twentieth century, petroleum jelly, either pure or as an ingredient, was also popular as a hair pomade.
When used in a 50/50 mixture with pure beeswax, it makes an effective moustache wax.
Skin lubrication
Petroleum jelly can be used to reduce the friction between skin and clothing during various sport activities, for example to prevent chafing of the seat region of cyclists or the nipples of long distance runners wearing loose T-shirts, and is commonly used in the groin area of wrestlers and footballers.
Petroleum jelly is commonly used as a personal lubricant because it does not dry out like water-based lubricants, and has a distinctive “feel”, different from that of K-Y and related methylcellulose products.
However, it is not recommended for use with condoms during sexual activity because it swells latex and thus increases the chance of rupture.
Product care and protection
Coating
VASELINE can be used to coat corrosion-prone items such as metallic trinkets, non-stainless steel blades, and gun barrels prior to storage as it serves as an excellent and inexpensive water repellent.
It is used as an environmentally friendly underwater antifouling coating for motor boats and sailing yachts.
It was recommended in the Porsche owner’s manual as a preservative for light alloy (alleny) anodized Fuchs wheels to protect them against corrosion from road salts and brake dust.
“Every three months (after regular cleaning) the wheels should be coated with petroleum jelly.”
Finishing
It can be used to finish and protect wood, much like a mineral oil finish.
It is used to condition and protect smooth leather products like bicycle saddles, boots, motorcycle clothing, and used to put a shine on patent leather shoes (when applied in a thin coat and then gently buffed off).
Lubrication
Petroleum jelly can be used to lubricate zippers and slide rules.
It was also recommended by Porsche in maintenance training documentation for lubrication (after cleaning) of “Weatherstrips on Doors, Hood, Tailgate, Sun Roof”.
The publication states, “…before applying a new coat of lubricant…”
“Only acid-free lubricants may be used, for example: glycerine, Vaseline, tire mounting paste, etc.
These lubricants should be rubbed in, and excessive lubricant wiped off with a soft cloth.”
It is used in bullet lubricant compounds.[26] Petrolatum is also used as a light lubricating grease as well as an anti-seize assembling grease.
Industrial production processes
Petroleum jelly is a useful material when incorporated into candle wax formulas.
The petroleum jelly softens the overall blend, allows the candle to incorporate additional fragrance oil, and facilitates adhesion to the sidewall of the glass.
Petroleum jelly is used to moisten nondrying modelling clay such as plasticine, as part of a mix of hydrocarbons including those with greater (paraffin wax) and lesser (mineral oil) molecular weights.
It is used as a tack reducer additive to printing inks to reduce paper lint “picking” from uncalendered paper stocks.
It can be used as a release agent for plaster molds and castings.
It is used in the leather industry as a waterproofing cream.
Other
Explosives
VASELINE is mixed with a high proportion of strong inorganic chlorates due to it acting as a plasticizer and a fuel source.
An example of this is Cheddite C which consists of a ratio of 9:1, KClO3 to petroleum jelly.
This mixture is unable to detonate without the use of a blasting cap.
It is also used as a stabiliser in the manufacture of the propellant Cordite.
Mechanical, barrier functions
VASELINE can be used to fill copper or fibre-optic cables using plastic insulation to prevent the ingress of water, see icky-pick.
VASELINE can be used to coat the inner walls of terrariums to prevent animals crawling out and escaping.
A stripe of petroleum jelly can be used to prevent the spread of a liquid.
For example, it can be applied close to the hairline when using a home hair dye kit to prevent the hair dye from irritating or staining the skin.
It is also used to prevent diaper rash.
Surface cleansing
Petroleum jelly is used to gently clean a variety of surfaces, ranging from makeup removal from faces to tar stain removal from leather.
Pet care
Petroleum jelly is used to moisturize the paws of dogs.
It is a common ingredient in hairball remedies for domestic cats.
Petroleum jelly is slightly soluble in alcohol.
Health
In 2015, German consumer watchdog Stiftung Warentest analyzed cosmetics containing mineral oils.
After developing a new detection method, they found high concentrations of Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) and even polyaromatics in products containing mineral oils. Vaseline products contained the most MOAH of all tested cosmetics (up to 9%).[33] The European Food Safety Authority sees MOAH and polyaromatics as possibly carcinogenic.[33] Based on the results, Stiftung Warentest warns not to use Vaseline or any product that is based on mineral oils for lip care.
A later study published in 2017 found at most 1% MOAH in petroleum jelly, and less than 1% in petroleum jelly-based beauty products.
Chemical Properties: Petrolatum is a pale yellow to yellow-colored, translucent, soft unctuous mass.
It is odorless, tasteless, and not more than slightly fluorescent by daylight, even when melted.
Production Methods: etrolatum is manufactured from the semisolid residue that remains after the steam or vacuum distillation of petroleum.
This residue is dewaxed and/or blended with stock from other sources, along with lighter fractions, to give a product with the desired consistency.
Final purification is performed by a combination of high-pressure hydrogenation or sulfuric acid treatment followed by filtration through adsorbents.
A suitable antioxidant may be added.
Safety Profile
When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes
Safety
Petrolatum is mainly used in topical pharmaceutical formulations and is generally considered to be a nonirritant and nontoxic material.
Similarly, no adverse effects were observed in a 2-year feeding study with rats fed a diet containing 5% of petrolatum blends.
Although petrolatum is generally nonirritant in humans following topical application, rare instances of allergic hypersensitivity reactions have been reported,as have cases of acne, in susceptible individuals following repeated use on facial skin.
However, given the widespread use of petrolatum in topical products, there are few reports of irritant reactions.
The allergic components of petrolatum appear to be polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present as impurities.
The quantities of these materials found in petrolatum vary depending upon the source and degree of refining.
Hypersensitivity appears to occur less with white petrolatum and it is therefore the preferred material for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Petrolatum has also been tentatively implicated in the formation of spherulosis of the upper respiratory tract following use of a petrolatum-based ointment packing after surgery,and lipoid pneumonia following excessive use in the perinasal area.
Other adverse reactions to petrolatum include granulomas (paraffinomas) following injection into soft tissue.
Also, when taken orally, petrolatum acts as a mild laxative and may inhibit the absorption of lipids and lipid-soluble nutrients.
Petrolatum is widely used in direct and indirect food applications.
In the USA, the daily dietary exposure to petrolatum is estimated to be 0.404 mg/kg body-weight.
Storage: VASELINE is an inherently stable material owing to the unreactive nature of its hydrocarbon components; most stability problems occur because of the presence of small quantities of impurities. On exposure to light, these impurities may be oxidized to discolor the petrolatum and produce an undesirable odor.
The extent of the oxidation varies depending upon the source of the petrolatum and the degree of refinement.
Oxidation may be inhibited by the inclusion of a suitable antioxidant such as butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or alpha tocopherol.
Petrolatum should not be heated for extended periods above the temperature necessary to achieve complete fluidity (approximately 70°C).
Petrolatum may be sterilized by dry heat. Although petrolatum may also be sterilized by gamma irradiation, this process affects the physical properties of the petrolatum such as swelling, discoloration, odor, and rheological behavior.
Petrolatum should be stored in a well-closed container, protected from light, in a cool, dry place.
Incompatibilities: Petrolatum is an inert material with few incompatibilities.
Regulatory Status: GRAS listed. Accepted for use in certain food applications in many countries worldwide.
Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (ophthalmic preparations; oral capsules and tablets; otic, topical, and transdermal preparations).
Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK.
Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.
Applications:
As a lotion and ointment for hands and lips – Prevention and treatment of nail fungus – Itchy skin – Nasal bleeding – Sunscreen lotion – Daily skin lotion – Hair care – Dandruff – Shine lotion and strengthen the natural color of the body – Skin moisturizer – body skin care
*Ultra Snow white Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly (also called petrolatum) is a mixture of mineral oils and waxes, which form a semisolid jelly-like substance
Vaseline is an American brand of petroleum jelly-based products owned by transnational company Unilever.
Products include plain petroleum jelly and a selection of skin creams, soaps, lotions, cleansers, and deodorants.
In many languages, the word “Vaseline” is used as generic for petroleum jelly; in Portugal, the Unilever products are called Vaselina, and in Brazil and some Spanish-speaking countries, the Unilever products are called Vasenol.
History
In 1859, Robert Chesebrough, a chemist who formerly clarified kerosene from the oil of sperm whales, traveled to the oil fields in Titusville, Pennsylvania to research what new materials might be created from this new fuel.
There he learned of a residue called “rod wax” that had to be periodically removed from oil rig pumps.
The oil workers had been using the substance to heal cuts and burns.
Chesebrough took samples of the rod wax back to Brooklyn, extracted the usable petroleum jelly, and began manufacturing a medicinal product he called Vaseline.
The first known reference to the name Vaseline was by Chesebrough in his U.S. patent (U.S. Patent 127,568) in 1872.
“I, Robert Chesebrough, have invented a new and useful product from petroleum which I have named Vaseline…”
The name “vaseline” is said by the manufacturer to be derived from German Wasser “water” + Greek έλαιον (elaion) “olive oil”.
Vaseline was made by the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company until the company was purchased by Unilever in 1987.
Uses
Further information: Petroleum jelly § Uses
Vaseline in its container
While Vaseline can be used as a lubricant, it can also be used as a moisture insulator for local skin conditions characterized by tissue dehydration.
Vaseline has been reported to be highly refined, triple-purified and regarded as non-carcinogenic.
Health
In 2015, German consumer watchdog Stiftung Warentest analyzed cosmetics containing mineral oils.
After developing a new detection method, they found high concentrations of Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) and even polyaromatics in products containing mineral oils.
Vaseline products contained the most MOAH of all tested cosmetics (up to 9%).
The European Food Safety Authority sees MOAH and polyaromatics as possibly carcinogenic.
Based on the results, Stiftung Warentest warns not to use Vaseline or any other products containing mineral oils.
Ingredient sources
White petrolatum, the ingredient in petroleum jelly Vaseline, is refined from petroleum.
Translated names
(Keerulise koostisega süsivesinike segu, mis saadakse pooltahke massina parafiinse jääkõli deparafiinimisel. Koosneb peamiselt küllastunud kristalsetest ja vedelatest süsivesinikest, mille süsiniku aatomite arv on valdavalt üle C25.) (et)
(Složeni sastav ugljikovodika dobiven kao polukruta tvar kod odvoštavanja parafinskog ostatnog ulja. Sastoji se pretežito od zasićenih kristaličnih i tekućih ugljikovodika koji imaju broj ugljikovih atoma pretežito viši od C25.) (hr)
[Kompleks blanding av hydrokarboner dannet som halvfast stoff fra avvoksing av parafinrestolje. Består for det meste av mettede, krystallinske og flytende hydrokarboner hovedsakelig større enn C25.] (no)
[Komplekss ogļūdeņražu savienojums, ko iegūst kā biezu masu, atdalot vaskus no parafīnu atlikuma eļļas. Pārsvarā tajā ir piesātināti kristāliski un šķidri ogļūdeņraži, kuros oglekļa atomu skaits galvenokārt ir lielāks nekā C25.] (lv)
[Komplexe Kombination von Kohlenwasserstoffen, die als Semifeststoff beim Entwachsen von paraffinhaltigem Rückstandsöl erhalten wird. Besteht vorherrschend aus gesättigten kristallinen und flüssigen Kohlenwasserstoffen mit Kohlenstoffzahlen vorherrschend größer als C25.] (de)
[Komplexná zmes uhľovodíkov získavaná v podobe polotuhej látky odvoskovaním alkánového zvyškového oleja. Pozostáva predovšetkým z nasýtených kryštalických a kvapalných uhľovodíkov, s počtom atómov uhlíka prevažne väčším ako C25.] (sk)
[O combinaţie complexă de hidrocarburi, obţinuta ca semisolid prin deparafinarea uleiurilor reziduale parafinice. Se compune în principal din hidrocarburi saturate cristaline i lichide cu număr de atomi de carbon mai mare de C25.] (ro)
[Paraffinos maradék olajból viaszmentesítéssel, félig szilárd anyagként előállított, bonyolult összetételű szénhidrogén elegy. Főleg C25 fölötti szénatomszámú, telített, kristályos és folyékony szénhidrogéneket tartalmaz.] (hu)
[Složitá směs uhlovodíků získaná jako polotuhá látka z odparafinování zbytkového oleje z parafinické ropy. Je složena převážně z nasycených krystalických a kapalných uhlovodíků s počtem uhlíkových atomů převážně větším než C12.] (cs)
[sudėtingas angliavandenilių mišinys, gautas kaip pusiau kieta medžiaga deparafinuojant parafino alyvos likutį. Jo svarbiausi komponentai yra sotieji kristaliniai ir skystieji angliavandeniliai, turintys daugiausiai daugiau negu C25 anglies atomus.] (lt)
[Комплексна комбинация от въглеводороди, получена като полутвърдо вещество от депарафинизирането на остатъчен суров парафин. Състои се основно от наситени кристални и течни въглеводороди с брой на въглеродните атоми преобладаващо по-голям от С25.] (bg)
Amorfni parafin (hr)
Combinación compleja de hidrocarburos obtenidos como un semisólido de la desparafinación del aceite residual parafínico. Compuesta fundamentalmente de hidrocarburos saturados líquidos y cristalinos con un número de carbonos en su mayor parte superior a C25. (es)
Combinaison complexe d’hydrocarbures obtenue sous forme semi-solide lors du déparaffinage d’huile résiduelle paraffinique. Se compose principalement d’hydrocarbures saturés cristallins et liquides dont le nombre de carbones est en majorité supérieur à C25. (fr)
Combinazione complessa di idrocarburi, ottenuta in forma semisolida dalla deparaffinazione di olio residuo paraffinico. AE costituito in prevalenza da indrocarburi liquidi e cristallini saturi con numero di atomi di carbonio prevalentemente superiore a C25. (it)
Een complexe verzameling van koolwaterstoffen, verkregen als een halfvaste stof bv het van was ontdoen van paraffinische residu-olie. Het bestaat voornamelvk uit verzadigde kristallvne en vloeibare koolwaterstoffen, overwegend groter dan C25. (nl)
En sammensat blanding af carbonhydrider udvundet som et halvfast stof fra afvoksning af paraffinrestolie. Den består overvejende af mættede krystallinske og flydende carbonhydrider, overvejende større end C25. (da)
Kompleksna kombinacija poltrdih ogljikovodikov dobljenihpri deparafinizaciji parafinskih rezidualnih olj. Sestavljenaje predvsem iz nasičenih kristalnih in tekočihogljikovodikov, ki imajo število ogljikov pretežno večjekot C25. (sl)
Petrolaatum (et)
petrolaatum (et)
Petrolato (it)
petrolato (it)
Petrolatos (pt)
Petrolatum (cs)
Petrolatum (de)
Petrolatum (nl)
petrolatum (nl)
Petrolatum (ro)
petrolatum (sv)
Petrolátum (hu)
petrolátum (sk)
pretolato (pt)
Pétrolatum (fr)
Pétrolatum; pétrolatum;[combinaison complexe d’hydrocarbures obtenue sous forme semi-solide par déparaffinage d’huile résiduelle paraffinique. Se compose principalement d’hydrocarbures liquides ou cristallins saturés comportant majoritairement plus de 25 atomes de carbone (> C25).] (fr)
Uma combinação complexa de hidrocarbonetos obtida como um semi-sólido na desparafinagem de óleo residual parafínico. BE constituída predominantemente por hidrocarbonetos saturados cristalinos e líquidos com números de átomos de carbono predominantemente superiores a C25. (pt)
vaezlin (sl)
Vaseliini (fi)
Vaselin (da)
vaselin (da)
vaselin (no)
Vaselina (es)
vaselina (es)
vazelin (sl)
vazelinas (lt)
vazelīns (lv)
Wazelina (pl)
Złożona mieszanina węglowodorów otrzymywana jako substancja półpłynna przez odparafinowanie parafinowego oleju pozostałościowego. Składa się przede wszystkim z nasyconych krystalicznych i ciekłych węglowodorów o liczbie atomów węgla głównie powyżej C25. (pl)
Ββαζελίνη (el)
Петролатум (bg)
Петролатум (вазелин) (bg)
IUPAC NAMES:
1,1,2-trimethylbenzo[e]indole
4-(2-methylbutyl)-11-(propan-2-yl)-1,6a^{1}-dihydrocoronene; 5,11,11-tripropyloctadecane; heptacosane
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained as a semi-solid from dewaxing paraffinic residual oil.
It consists predominantly of saturated crystalline and liquid hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly greater than C25.
C>25 alkanes
CLP Petrolatum
N/A (UBCB)
N/A (UVCB)
Non-Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Pentyl valerate
Petrolatum
petrolatum
Petrolatum
petrolatum
Petrolatum (non-carcinogenic feed stock)
Petrolatum <0.1% Benzene
Petrolatum;
petroleum
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly
Technical Petrolatum
White Vaseline
TRADE NAMES:
Amber
Blond
Ceresin
Ceresine 65
Ceresine 70
Ceresine 75
COX TEC
Lily,Cream
MERKUR
PARAFINA OLEOSA BS
PETAX
PETROLATUM
Petrolatum
Petrolatum PZS
PETROLEUM JELLY
Royal
SOFT PARAFFIN
Special, Regent
Super
Ultima, Snow
VARA
Production of Petroleum Jelly
Acid-carclazyte method
Acid-carclazyte method is a traditional method for the production of petrolatum (vaseline), which is still in use at home and abroad.
In the process, add sulfuric acid with more than 98% concentration measured up to about 60% of raw materials and mix it with the raw material in the reactor.
The reaction temperature is kept at 70℃. After the reaction, the acid residue is separated and diluted with alcohol to further remove the acid residue.
The oil treated with acid in another clay refining tank is decolorized with carclazyte at about 140℃, and then filtered to obtain the final product.
The characteristics of the acid-carclazyte method: the high-quality parts can be produced, PAHs can reach the level of pharmaceutical grade and other relevant indicators can meet the quality index of the pharmacopoeia, which is the reason of traditional craft’s long time existence.
The main disadvantage of the method is too low goal product yield (about 50%) and a large number of acid residues which is difficult to be utilized resulting in serious environmental pollution and very high production cost.
Aluminum chloride method
Aluminum chloride method has taken place of acid-carclazyte method to produce vaseline from 60s at home.
The process is as follows: the raw material reacts with aluminum chloride after dehydration in the reactor, reaction temperature is between 130℃ to 140℃.
After the reaction, the oil will be neutralized and precipitated with alkali liquor in the neutralization tank.
Then remove the slag and refine by carclazyte adsorption in the decolorizing tank. Vaseline product is obtained by filtering refined oil at about 120℃.
The yield of aluminum chloride method is higher than that of acid-carclazyte method, and consumption index seems lower, but the quality is slightly worse; compared with vaseline produced by medium-pressure hydrocracking and high pressure hydrogenation was there is a great gap in color, transparency, the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and so on.
Hydrogenation method
Hydrogenation method is a new process for the production of vaseline, which is usually carried out with 10, 20, or 30MPa and lower liquid hourly space velocity.
The process is to convert the useless components in the raw materials into effective components, so that the product yield can be nearly 100%.
But aluminum chloride method or acid-carclazyte method changes useless components into waste slags to dump containing effective components, which reduces the product yield.
Due to the product yield, the refining extent of luminum chloride method or acid-carclazyte method is also limited, thus limiting the further improvement of product quality.
So the hydrogenation method is better than aluminum chloride method and acid-carclazyte method both in product yield or quality.
Manufacturing and Specifications
The components for petrolatum come from paraffinic lube oil refineries.
Petrolatum can be considered as a combination of mineral oil and petroleum wax.
The separation of wax components from oil involves solvent dewaxing and the filtration of the wax from a solvent-oil slurry at low temperatures.
However, the best petrolatum components come from waxy oils that have not had the microcrystalline wax separated from the oil.
This “natural petrolatum” has a far better propensity to hold the oil and waxy components together and therefore shows less oil bleeding or syneresis over time.
This is not to say that mineral oils or waxes are not added to the petrolatum.
They may be added to produce specific grades of petrolatum with slightly different physical properties.
The purification process for making petrolatum usually involves hydrogenation and/or adsorption.
The hydrogenation reaction is carried out on a catalyst at high temperature and pressure.
This process saturates many of the aromatic compounds and removes polar hydrocarbons such as those containing sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen.
The adsorption process is accomplished by percolating the melted liquid petrolatum over an absorbent such as clay or bauxite.
The product off the absorption step is lower in aromatic content, and lower in polar hydrocarbon content.
As with hydrogenation, the resulting petrolatum is much lighter in color than the starting material.
Usage
With the characteristics of no color or smell, chemical inertness, semisolid, lipophilic property and good adhesion, it is suitable to manufacture substrates of hair cream, hair conditioner, eye cream, lipstick, wax matrix and so on. Medical petrolatum (vaseline) can be widely used as the matrix of ointment because it is almost compatible with all drugs without changes in drugs.
Hydrophilic vaseline can be prepared by adding alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and cholesterol after heated fusion and sufficient stir.
Hydrophilic vaseline is an ointment base with strong permeability, stability and small stimulation.
This ointment matrix can be used alone for dry skin rash, erythema, papules and other diseases, especially for the removal of blood scab and desquamation.
Vaseline can also be used as a non-ionic emulsifier to be compatible with cholesterol, so the range of compatibility is very wide.
In addition, it can be compatible with liquid drugs or aqueous solutions of drugs because of its absorbability.
Industrial vaseline can be used as rubber softener, anti-rust of metal devices and raw material of rust proof grease.
Defoamer; lubricant; release agent; protective coating.
The product is suitable for preparing ingredients of medicine ointment and skin protection cream.
Vaseline can be used for the anticorrosion of mechanical equipments, metal and parts, especially precision instruments, medical equipment and other advanced products.
Vaseline can be used as lubricating grease in anti-attrition parts of machines when the temperature is not high and the mechanical load is not large.
Vaseline can be used as the ingredients of high-end cosmetics and other daily necessities, such as skin care cream, hair cream, lipstick pomade ,etc.
Pharmaceutic aid (ointment base, oleaginous); Protectant (topical). petrolatum (petroleum jelly; Vaseline) softens and smoothes the skin.
It forms a film on the skin’s surface, preventing moisture loss caused by evaporation, and protecting against irritation.
Its disadvantage lies in the difficulty of effectively and properly removing it from the skin.
Studies indicate that petrolatum accelerates the recovery of skin surface lipids, permeating throughout the stratum corneum layer, and allowing normal barrier recovery despite its occlusive properties.
Thus it does not form or act as an impermeable membrane.
Vaseline is a purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons from petroleum.
Petrolatum imparts a greasier feeling than other emollients and also has the potential for clogging pores and causing comedogenicity.
Although it can cause allergic skin rashes, petrolatum is non-toxic to the skin when properly purified and of high grade.
Petrolatum is a release agent, lubricant, and defoaming agent that is a purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.
Physical Property Specifications
Having made a purified base petrolatum, manufacturers can then work with this base to create various grades that meet specific requirements.
The USP, for example, sets a range for consistency and melting point and a maximum color in the two monographs for petrolatum, White Petrolatum USP and Petrolatum USP.
The basic difference between these categories is the maximum color.
White Petrolatum USP can have some yellow color but Petrolatum USP has a definite yellow color.
The European Pharmacopeia (EP) does not use the term petrolatum but it does have White Soft Paraffin that corresponds to White Petrolatum USP and Yellow Soft Paraffin that corresponds to Petrolatum USP.
The physical tests in these EP monographs have slightly different methods and ranges than those in the USP monographs for petrolatum.
Similar tests are also found in the Japanese Pharmacopeia and the Food Chemical Codex (FCC).
Purity Specifications
The most important purity test for petrolatum is the analytical procedure for PNA’s.
Certain condensed polynuclear aromatic compounds have been shown to cause cancer in animals and humans.
In the mid 1960’s, the FDA and others undertook extensive research programs to develop a method that limited the PNA content of petrolatum and petroleum wax.
The culmination of this work led to the test that is currently found in the CFR under petroleum wax, 21 CFR 172.886(b).
Based on the recovery of model PNA’s added to petroleum wax samples, Howard et al. estimated that the total PNA’s “would be of the order of 0.6 ppm (excluding chrysenes and triphenylene).”
Since the absorbance maxima for petrolatum in 21 CFR 172.880 (See Table 1) are slightly higher than those for wax, the total PNA’s in petrolatum are around 1 ppm if the absorbances are near the maxima.
Table 1
Petrolatum Listings in
Code of Federal Regulations
21 CFR 172.880 (Direct Addition to Food)
UV limits:
280 – 289 nm: 0.25 max
290 – 299 nm: 0.20 max
300 – 359 nm: 0.14 max
360 – 400 nm: 0.04 max
21 CFR 178.3700 (Food Contact)
UV limits: Same as above
21 CFR 573.720 (Animal Feed)
UV limits: Same as above
Pharmaceutical Applications
Petrolatum in drug products: This is limited primarily to topical applications to the skin or certain mucous membranes.
First we need to distinguish between cosmetic and drug applications.
The main difference is that drug products have an active ingredient and certain claims of effectiveness can be made based on that active ingredient.
Cosmetics can alter the appearance but they should not have any physiological effect on the skin.
When petrolatum is used in drug products it can be either an active ingredient or an excipient.
An excipient is the non-active ingredient in the formulation.
It may also be referred to as the “carrier” or “vehicle” for the active ingredient since it may comprise 95% or more of the total formulation.
But petrolatum can also be considered as the active ingredient in Over The Counter (OTC) drugs.
Petrolatum, along with other ingredients, was listed by the FDA in a 1983 publication in the Federal Register called the Tentative Final Monograph for Skin Protectants.
This made it possible for any formulation containing 30% to 100% petrolatum to make the label claim of a skin protectant.
Such products are OTC drugs and therefore are regulated by the FDA as drugs.
In June of 2003 the FDA published the “Final Rule” in the Federal Register that listed petrolatum as a skin protectant as long as the concentration was in the range of 30% to 100%.
The CFR will be updated in June 2004.
Examples of drug products where petrolatum is the active ingredient can be found in any drugstore.
Jars of petroleum jelly will normally show on their labels: Active Ingredient: White Petrolatum USP.
The same language can be found, for example, on diaper rash preparations and in ointments intended for use on hemorrhoids.
FDA Requirements for Drug Manufacturers
Drug products, both prescription and OTC, are closely regulated by the FDA.
They are certainly regulated at the site where the final drug is formulated and packaged.
But they are also regulated at the site where the bulk drug is manufactured.
This means that petrolatum manufacturers that claim that their products are USP have certain obligations.
Their manufacturing sites must follow current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) as outlined in 21 CFR 211.