Paraffin, liquid

Description

Mineral oil mist is a colorless, oily liquid aero-sol dispersed in air with an odor like burned lubricating oil.The odor threshold is 1.0 ppm. Specific gravity (H2O:1)=0.865 at 60℃; Boiling point = 250- 360*C; Vaporpressure = <0.5 mmHg at 20℃; Flash point= 193℃;Autoignition temperature = 260- 371℃. HazardIdentification (based on NFPA-704 M Rating System):Health 0, Flammability 1, Reactivity 0. Insoluble in water.

Chemical properties

Clear colorless oil

Chemical properties

Mineral oil is a transparent, colorless, viscous oily liquid, without fluorescence in daylight. It is practically tasteless and odorless when cold, and has a faint odor of petroleum when heated.

The Uses of Paraffin, liquid

Laxative; pharmaceutic aid (solvent).

The Uses of Paraffin, liquid

Mineral oil is a lubricant and is used as a solvent for inks in the printing industry.

The Uses of Paraffin, liquid

Paraffin Oils is a useful organic solvent for isolating the nucleus of the gian amphibian oocyte.

Production Methods

Mineral oil is obtained by distillation of petroleum. The lighter hydrocarbons are first removed by distillation and the residue is then redistilled between 330–390°C. The distillate is chilled and the solid fractions are removed by filtration. The filtrate is then further purified and decolorized by high-pressure hydrogenation or sulfuric acid treatment; the purified filtrate is then filtered through adsorbents. The liquid portion obtained is distilled and the portion boiling below 360°C is discarded. A suitable stabilizer may be added to the mineral oil;

Definition

Liquid hydrocarbons from petroleum.

brand name

Balneol (Solvay Pharmaceuticals); Neo-Cultol (Fisons); Nujol (Schering-Plough HealthCare).

General Description

Transparent colorless oily liquid. Practically tasteless and odorless, even when warmed.

Air & Water Reactions

Flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

OIL. [MINERAL] may be incompatible with strong oxidizing agents like nitric acid. Charring may occur followed by ignition of unreacted oil and other nearby combustibles. In other settings, mostly unreactive. Not affected by aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis, most oxidizing agents, and most reducing agents. Burns exothermically when heated sufficiently or when ignited in the presence of air, oxygen or strong oxidizing agents.

Hazard

Inhalation of vapor or particulates can causeaspiration pneumonia. Combustible liquid. Upperrespiratory tract irritant. Questionable carcinogen.

Health Hazard

Highly refined mineral oil mist is of low toxicity.

Fire Hazard

PARAFFIN is combustible.

Pharmaceutical Applications

Mineral oil is used primarily as an excipient in topical pharmaceutical formulations, where its emollient properties are exploited as an ingredient in ointment bases. It is additionally used in oil-in-water emulsions,as a solvent, and as a lubricant in capsule and tablet formulations, and to a limited extent as a mold-release agent for cocoa butter suppositories. It has also been used in the preparation of microspheres and as a vaccine adjunct.
Therapeutically, mineral oil has been used as a laxative.It is indigestible and thus has limited absorption. Mineral oil is used in ophthalmic formulations for its lubricant properties. It is also used in cosmetics and some food products.

Safety Profile

A human teratogen by inhalation that causes testicular tumors in the fetus. Inhalation of vapor or particulates can cause aspiration pneumonia. A skin and eye irritant. Highly purified food grades are of low toxicity. Questionable human carcinogen producing gastrointestinal tumors. Slightly combustible liquid when exposed to heat or flame. To fight fire, use dry chemical, CO2, foam. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes.

Safety

Mineral oil is used as an excipient in a wide variety of pharmaceutical formulations. It is also used in cosmetics and in some food products.
Therapeutically, mineral oil has been used in the treatment of constipation, as it acts as a lubricant and stool softener when taken orally. Daily doses of up to 45mL have been administered orally, while doses of up to 120mL have been used as an enema. However, excessive dosage of mineral oil, either orally or rectally, can result in anal seepage and irritation, and its oral use as a laxative is not considered desirable.
Chronic oral consumption of mineral oil may impair the appetite and interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Prolonged use should be avoided. Mineral oil is absorbed to some extent when emulsified and can lead to granulomatous reactions. Similar reactions also occur upon injection of the oil;injection may also cause vasospasm.
The most serious adverse reaction to mineral oil is lipoid pneumonia caused by aspiration of the oil.Mineral oil can enter the bronchial tree without eliciting the cough reflex.With the reduction in the use of mineral oil in nasal formulations, the incidence of lipoid pneumonia has been greatly reduced. However, lipoid pneumonia has also been associated with the use of mineral oil-containing cosmetics and ophthalmic preparations.It is recommended that products containing mineral oil not be used in very young children, the elderly, or persons with debilitating illnesses.
Given its widespread use in many topical products, mineral oil has been associated with few instances of allergic reactions. The WHO has not specified an acceptable daily intake of mineral oil given the low concentration consumed in foods.
LD₅₀ (mouse, oral): 22 g/kg

Potential Exposure

Tumorigen,Human Data; Primary Irritant. Mineral oil is used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical bases, food, and fiber production; ascarriers and bases; as a lubricating oil; and as a solvent forinks in the printing industry. Oil mist would be encounteredin quenching of hot metal parts and in metal machiningoperations.

First aid

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove anycontact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least15 min, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts theskin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediatelywith soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. Ifthis chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR ifheart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medicalfacility

storage

Mineral oil undergoes oxidation when exposed to heat and light. Oxidation begins with the formation of peroxides, exhibiting an ‘induction period’. Under ordinary conditions, the induction period may take months or years. However, once a trace of peroxide is formed, further oxidation is autocatalytic and proceeds very rapidly. Oxidation results in the formation of aldehydes and organic acids, which impart taste and odor. Stabilizers may be added to retard oxidation; butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, and alpha tocopherol are the most commonly used antioxidants.
Mineral oil may be sterilized by dry heat.
Mineral oil should be stored in an airtight container, protected from light, in a cool, dry place.

Purification Methods

Treat the oil with fuming H2SO4 (care), then wash it with water and dilute aqueous NaOH, then percolate it through activated silica gel. Paraffin Wax. Melt the wax in the presence of NaOH, wash it with water until all of the base had been removed. The paraffin is allowed to solidify after each wash. Finally, 5g of paraffin is melted by heating it on a water-bath, then shaken for 20-30minutes with 100mL of boiling water and and dry the melt under vacuum.

Incompatibilities

Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.

Regulatory Status

GRAS listed. Accepted in the UK for use in certain food applications. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (dental preparations; IV injections; ophthalmic preparations; oral capsules and tablets; otic, topical, transdermal, and vaginal preparations). Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.