Separation and formulation of ultrapure liquid petrolatum from Egyptian petroleum waxy by-product

Some grades of liquid petrolatum have been obtained from Egyptian petroleum waxy by-product (soft wax). It has been separated via solvent percolation technique from heavy slack wax with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), and cyclo-hexane solvents at ambient temperature of 20 °C and at different percolation solvent ratios ranging from 3:1 to 6:1 by weight. The suitable soft waxes, separated by cyclo-hexane and MTBE solvents at percolation solvent ratio of 5:1, were subjected to solid–liquid column chromatography to separate their saturates. The two saturate products were bleached with 10 wt% activated synthetic bentonite to produce purified soft waxes. Then the purified products were blended with medicinal paraffin oil for formulation of some grades of pure liquid petrolatum. The formulated blends were characterized and evaluated according to the standard specifications of US Pharmacopoeia and Ultra Chemical Inc. of petrolatum. The final petrolatum products were found to be within the limits of standard specifications of ultrapure liquid petrolatum. These ultrapure grades of liquid petrolatum can be used in formulating bar soaps, creams, lotions and hair preparations since they have extra low melting points.