Paraffin Oil (Liquid Paraffin)

What is Liquid Paraffin (Paraffin Oil)?

Molecular Structure (Liquid Paraffin (Paraffin Oil)):C₁₅H₁₁ClO₇

Molecular Weight: 338.6966 g/mol

Chemical Name: Liquid Paraffin(Paraffin Oil)

CAS Number: 8012-95-1

Liquid Paraffin (Paraffin Oil) is a mineral oil obtained through the high purification of liquid saturated hydrocarbons derived from petroleum.

This refined, hydro-treated oil possesses excellent thermal and chemical stability.

Other Names for Liquid Paraffin Include:

• Liquid Paraffin
• Mineral Oil
• Mineral Oil
• Paraffin Oil
• Light Liquid Paraffin BP
• Light Liquid Paraffin USP
• Light Liquid Paraffin IP
• Light Liquid Paraffin
• 8012-95-1
• Paraffinic Oil
• Polishing Oil

How is it Produced?

It is a form of oil derived from various sources, including whales, coal, and crude oil. Liquid Paraffin is obtained by the thorough refining of saturated hydrocarbons.

More recently, Paraffin Oil is produced as a hydrocarbon-rich byproduct during the distillation of petroleum.

What are the Physical and Chemical Properties of Liquid Paraffin (Paraffin Oil)?

Liquid Paraffin is a light, transparent liquid. It does not exhibit fluorescence in daylight.

It displays variable physical appearances depending on different temperature parameters. Under cold conditions, Paraffin Oil is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. It has a high flash point.

Its melting point is -24 °C.

Its boiling point is 300 °C. It has a flash point above 300 °C.

In terms of solubility, Paraffin Oil is soluble in Ether and very slightly soluble in Ethanol. It is immiscible with water.

The density of Liquid Paraffin at 20 °C is 0.85 g/mL

Where is Liquid Paraffin (Paraffin Oil) Used?

• Liquid paraffins are primarily used in the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of ointments, creams, and lotions.
• In the production of sackcloth and shower loofahs, Paraffin Oil is used with polyethylene to impart a shiny quality to the resulting loofah.
• It is used in the manufacturing of hair oils. Liquid Paraffin (Paraffin Oil) is used in the production of perfumery compounds. It is also used in the manufacturing of aerosols.
• Liquid Paraffin is used in the manufacturing of medical formulations.
• Paraffin oil is used as an egg preservative.
• Liquid paraffin is used to produce hair conditioners. It is also used in the manufacturing of incense and perfumes.
• Paraffin Oil is used in the production of baby oil, baby cream, and skin ointments.
• It is extensively used in the manufacturing of face creams and skin lotions. Frequent use of irritants like soap, detergent, and alcohol can damage the lipids in the skin. In this context, Liquid Paraffin is used to form a thin oily layer on the skin.
• It is used as a mineral oil at a level of 5% in the production of wet wipes, leveraging its lubricating properties.
• The properties of liquid paraffin are utilized to create protective coatings for fruits and vegetables.
• In the production of skin softening creams, it is used as a high-viscosity mineral oil along with glycerin.
• It is used as a coating agent to make the outer surface of seeds shiny.
• Paraffinic oil is used in the manufacturing of mosquito repellent creams.
• It is used as a lubricant to prevent wear caused by the contact of moving and stationary parts.
• During wine production, if wooden barrels made from chestnut trees are used, wine loss will be high. This is because chestnut wood is porous, leading to high evaporation. To prevent excessive evaporation in wine barrels made from chestnut, the barrels are coated with paraffin.
• It is used in the oil phase formulation for roll-on deodorant production.

What are its Other Areas of Use?

• It is used for its waterproofing properties to prevent corrosion by leveraging its moisture-repelling effect.
• In the production of diaper rash cream, Liquid Paraffin is used together with chemicals like Mono Propylene Glycol (USP), citric acid, fragrance, and benzyl alcohol. The purpose here is to soften the skin.
• When applied as a lubricant, it acts as a corrosion inhibitor.
• It is used as a chemical component in pharmaceuticals.
• It is used together with Titanium Dioxide as a lubricating agent for servo systems.
• In the manufacturing of eye ointments, Paraffin Oil is used with the active ingredient in medications that treat damaged tissues and open wounds in the upper and middle layers of the skin by stimulating collagen production.
• It is a hydrocarbon used in the manufacturing of low-foaming cleaning agents.
• In the cosmetics industry, it is used in the production of skincare creams to form an oily layer on the skin's surface.
• In wood manufacturing, some harmful organisms can develop in timber, such as Gloeophyllum trabeum (Gt), Poria placenta (Pp), Coniophora puteana (Cp), and Antrodia vailantii (Av). To prevent these timber-damaging organisms, the wood is impregnated. For this purpose, liquid paraffin is used along with substances like Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Dipropylene Glycol Mono Methyl Ether.
• In the mining industry, it is a hydrophobic substance used with a surfactant to prevent the dusting of metal powders.
• In chemical products designed to dissolve tars like pitch, it is used to form a protective oily layer on the surface after the solvents have evaporated.

What Factors Affect its Price?

The price of Liquid Paraffin is directly linked to the prices of the raw materials used in its production. Paraffin Oil's price is directly dependent on petroleum prices. As petroleum prices increase, the price of paraffin oil will also rise.

The price of Paraffin Oil varies depending on its application areas. As the usage of paraffin oil expands, its price will increase. This is because the amount produced may not meet the demand, causing prices to go up.

The price of Paraffin Oil is also directly related to the number of companies producing it. As the number of manufacturing firms increases, the price of paraffin oil will decrease, because the supply will adequately meet the demand.