Mineral oil
Mineral oil, baby oil, or mineral base oil, is made from
natural crude petroleum oil. It dissolves in gasoline, ether, petroleum ether,
carbon disulfide, and volatile oils.[1]
Overview of mineral oils
Mineral oils are defined as refined petroleum oils that
are processed with other additives to meet the exact specifications of
different conditions and temperatures, where the mineral oil constitutes more
than 95% of the crude oil and the rest consists of additives. For old car and
motorcycle engines, mineral oils differ from edible vegetable oils as they are
a light, odorless and colorless mixture of higher alkanes from a mineral
source, especially petroleum distillates.[2]
Mineral oils (medium and low viscosity) are a subset of
the family of mineral oils and waxes. They are made from crude mineral oils
through a series of different refining stages, including crystallization,
extraction, and distillation, and then refined using acid processing. Mineral oils
require a long series of processing stages. To provide the physical qualities
and purity required for cosmetics, food, and medicines to be safe for
consumption.[3]
It should be noted that mineral oils have many benefits
and uses in industries such as: medical uses, skin and skin care, uses in
veterinary medicine, in mechanical machines and electrical devices, and in
prevention, and also in some food industries and in cleaning products.[2]
Mineral oil uses
Mineral oil has many uses in our daily lives, including
the following:
1. Food Industry
Mineral oil can be used in the preparation of some foods,
and is used as a binding agent during the yeast industry. It can also be added
to various grains such as barley, oats, wheat, and rice to prevent dust from
sticking to them. Mineral oil is used in the manufacture of some types of gummy
candy, because it contributes To reduce the sticking of candy pieces together.[4]
2. Relieves Eczema
Eczema is a chronic condition and one of the symptoms that
is accompanied by dry skin, change in color, it also causes a feeling of
itching, and may cause dermatitis, and the use of mineral oil on the skin may
help alleviate these symptoms.[5]
3. Cosmetics and personal care
Where mineral oil is a pure and light oil, it is used in
the preparation of many cosmetics and personal care such as baby oil,
ointments, moisturizing creams, and creams removing cosmetics, and mineral oil
contributes to maintaining skin moisture because it reduces the amount of water
that is lost through The use of cosmetics containing mineral oil does not cause
clogging of the pores of the skin, and these products do not spoil in case of
exposure to humid or hot weather.[4]
4. Dandruff
People who suffer from dandruff are advised to put mineral
oil on the scalp and leave it for an hour, then comb the hair, then wash it
well using shampoo. The mineral oil helps moisturize the scalp, causing a
feeling of comfort and relieving dandruff.[5]
5. Reducing the condition of cradle cap in infants
Cradle cap in most cases does not require treatment
because it disappears over time from the infant's head, but some methods can be
used to relieve it, and these methods include adding some drops of mineral oil
to the infant's scalp and leaving it for several minutes or hours This oil
helps to make this crust soft and can be moved, after which the infant's head
is washed, and it is not recommended to leave mineral oil for a longer period
on the child's head, which may worsen the problem of cradle cap.[6]
6. Relieve constipation
The oil in question is a lubricant, and it can also be
used as a laxative, so it is possible to take mineral oil, or use it as an
enema to relieve acute constipation, and unlike other laxatives, mineral oil
affects the intestines and stimulates its movement.[1]
Precautions for using mineral oil
In general, mineral oil is considered safe to use on the
skin, but when taking it, it is important not to take it for more than a week
without consulting a doctor, and women during pregnancy are not advised to take
mineral oil, and inhaling mineral oil is not safe for health and may cause
pneumonia, Using it on the skin may cause increased exposure to ultraviolet
rays, which increases the risk of skin cancer.[1]
Mineral Oil Specifications
Mineral oils have many specifications in terms of
characteristics, types, and others, which can be clarified as follows: [7] [8] [9]
1.
Mineral oils are lightweight,
clear, transparent, and inexpensive liquid natures made from petroleum that has
been completely refined, purified, and processed.
2.
Mineral oils are chemically inert
and stable, and have a long history of safe use in topical treatments, as they
can be used as an active ingredient in some over-the-counter drug products,
such as rectal medications, skin preservatives, and eye moisturizers, according
to the Food and Drug Administration.
3.
Mineral oils that have not been
refined or purified are referred to as "raw" materials as all sectors
of the automotive, railway and aviation sectors use these types of mineral oils.
4.
Mineral oils have some health
benefits, such as: contributing to relieving dry skin, as it can moisturize and
soften the skin, in addition to relieving constipation and eczema, removing
earwax, and others.
5.
Mineral oil can be used in the
manufacture of some basic foodstuffs, as it can be used as a binding material
in the manufacture of yeast used in making bread, and it can also be used for
cereals such as; Cereals of rice, oats, wheat, barley, etc.; To help prevent
dust from sticking to these grains.
6.
Mineral oils are very pure oils
that can sometimes be used in therapeutic care products such as; use in some
ointments, baby lotions and cold creams, and use in a variety of other cosmetic
and personal care products; This is due to its ability to help the skin retain
moisture and prevent water loss.
Types of mineral oils
There are three basic types of mineral oil, which is safe
for human consumption and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for
personal care, cosmetics, and food additives; Mineral oils include the
following types:[10]
1. Paraffinic oils
Paraffin oils contain paraffin wax and are the most
commonly used base in lubricant products. Paraffin oils’ qualities include high
oxidation resistance, higher viscosity index, pour point and low volatility.
These oils are also used in the cosmetics industry, and processed mineral oils
are used in the rubber, textile and paper industries. , and in the lubrication
of industrial machinery and the manufacture of motor oils.
2. Naphthenic oils
Naphthenic oils do not contain paraffin wax, but naphthene
oils have qualities of good stability, low viscosity, low pour point and high
volatility, and this type of oil is generally used for applications with narrow
temperature ranges that require a low pour point, such as the manufacture of
metalworking fluids and transformer oils.
3. Aromatic oils
Essential oils are used vital to the manufacture of tires,
and contrary to their name, these oils do not have a pleasant smell, have a low
volatility and are used to facilitate the processing of rubber compounds, and
they are essential to the technical performance of tires, especially their
adhesion to the road.
References
1.
Cherie Berkley (4/2/2021), "What Is
Mineral Oil?", verywellhealth, Retrieved 16/1/2022. Edited.
2.
"MINERAL
OILS (MEDIUM- AND LOW-VISCOSITY) AND PARAFFIN WAXES", inchem,
Retrieved 3/2/2022. Edited.
3.
What Is
Mineral Oil?", verywellhealth, Retrieved 3/2/2022. Edited.
4. "Mineral Oil", chemicalsafetyfacts,
Retrieved 16/1/2022. Edited.
5. Scott Frothingham (30/9/2019), "6 Ways to Use Mineral
Oil: For Hair, Skin, Feet, Ears, and More", healthline, Retrieved
16/1/2022. Edited.
6. "Cradle
cap", mayoclinic, Retrieved 16/1/2022. Edited.
7. "Mineral
Oil", chemicalsafetyfacts, Retrieved
3/2/2022. Edited.
8. "What Is Mineral Oil?",
verywellhealth, Retrieved 3/2/2022. Edited.
9. "Material
Safety Data Sheet Mineral oil MSDS", harpercollege, Retrieved
20/4/2022. Edited.
10. HELEN HARVEY, "Types of Mineral Oil", itstillruns, Retrieved 20/4/2022. Edited.
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