White oils and isoparaffins have a crucial role in the manufacturing of a number of pharmaceutical products. Choosing the optimal oil is vital to ensuring the success of products in this competitive market.
Among other benefits, pure white oils and highly pure isoparaffins offer:
- A water-white appearance that won’t contaminate product color.
- The absence of odor that would otherwise alter desired scent.
- A purity that is safe and non-irritating on skin and to ingest in small quantities.
Manufacturers must carefully choose oils that have all these characteristics in order to build products that meet quality standards that consumers can trust.
Consider the difference quality white oils can make in your product line, especially if you manufacture these four pharmaceutical products:
- Topical Ointments
- Petroleum Jellies
- Laxatives
- Gelatin Capsules
1. Topical Ointments
Topical ointments often use a white oil base for a number of reasons.
- White oils are natural emollients that help moisturize skin by trapping a layer of water beneath the lotion and onto the skin.
- They form a smooth and consistent base free from impurities.
These oils are especially useful in lotions that retain moisture or counteract dry, flaky skin and rashes. They can treat skin that is scaly, rough, and itchy, or with minor irritations like diaper rash or the effects of radiation treatment.
Viscosity Range of White Oils
Because they are applied directly to the skin, topical ointments must have just the right texture so that they can be applied easily and comfortably.
When it comes to selecting a white oil for your product, it’s necessary to choose one with the precise viscosity you need to consistently produce the ideal texture.
Renkert white oils span a viscosity range of 60-550 SUS at 100˚ F, giving you a wide range of bases to choose from. Whatever your product specifications, we’ll help you find the best white oil for the application.
Isoparaffins’ Smooth Feel
In addition, Shell GTL isoparaffins are very useful in topical ointments. They offer emolliency, improved spreadability, and a silky feel that are perfect for lotions or moisturizers.
And, because of the stable synthetic product achieved through GTL technology, the oil has a consistent composition which helps your product remain pure and comfortable.
2. Petroleum Jellies
White oils are an important component of petroleum jellies, which have a wide variety of curative uses including:
- Rashes
- Nosebleeds
- Fungal Infections
- Common cold
Petroleum jellies work by sealing your skin with a water protective barrier, allowing your skin to heal and retain its moisture.
Colorless and Odorless
The semi-transparent look and minimal odor of petroleum jelly are part of what makes this product distinctive and recognizable to consumers.
The white oils you consider for your formulation should be as colorless and odorless as possible. They must be free of reactive impurities that can affect product appearance, scent, and chemical composition.
Renkert white oils achieve this via their high degree of purity, giving them a clear and bright, colorless appearance, free from solids or water.
This high degree of purity also ensures that white oils won’t cause the product to stain or discolor surfaces and materials, such as clothing, that it comes into contact with.
3. Laxatives
White oils are also used as laxatives to treat constipation. They work as lubricant laxatives, helping to maintain moisture in stool.
These laxatives can come in both a liquid and an oral form, and can be plain white mineral oil or sold as an emulsion.
Safe for Use
With all pharmaceutical products it is of the utmost importance that all ingredients used are clean and safe to be used on people. Renkert supplies USP/NF quality that is approved for human use.
Because of their high purity, isoparaffins have very low volatility and won’t irritate customers’ skin or eyes.
Additionally, Renkert’s white oils and isoparaffins comply with the health standards of a number of regulative bodies including:
- FDA
- SQF (Safe Quality Food) Institute
- U.S. Pharmacopeia/National Formulary*
- European Pharmacopeia
- Halal and Kosher
This means that in any pharmaceutical application, they are safe for use on skin and to ingest in the amounts required for pharmaceutical uses.
*Shell GTL isoparaffins meet all the same purity requirements as Renoil white mineral oils but are not labeled NF solely because the density is below the range foreseen by the FDA. This lower density is due to the extremely pure synthetic isoparaffins which are naturally lower density than mixed isoparaffinic/naphthenic petroleum-mineral based white oils.
4. Gelatin Capsules
Gelatin capsules are convenient packages for the administration of a variety of drugs, vitamins, or supplements. In many cases they are a welcome alternative to more difficult to use liquid, paste, or powder formulations.
The capsules can vary in size, color, and even in release time, some capsules having an enteric (slow) release and others releasing much faster.
To create such a variety of capsules, the white oils are used for safety and quality.
Environmentally Friendly
It is increasingly important to consumers in this product category, and in general that they use products that are environmentally friendly, and keeping up environmental standards is an important part of maintaining a competitive share of the product market.
Keeping an environmentally clean operation is often a crucial aspect of modernizing your production process.
Producing eco-friendly gelatin capsules starts with the use of eco-friendly oils, synthetic isoparaffins are particularly safe for use in this regard.
Compared to other solvents, Shell GTL isoparaffins are much more biodegradable. They are non-toxic, and have been demonstrated to be not harmful to honeybees or aquatic organisms.
They are also non-phytotoxic, making them safe to come in contact with both agricultural and ornamental plants.
Make Renkert Your White Oil and Isoparaffin Supplier
To consistently optimize pharmaceutical quality and safety, take care to select only the purest white oils. Renkert delivers high quality oils to meet your needs for:
- Ideal Texture
- Health and Safety
- Minimal Environmental Impact
- Consistent Viscosity
- Colorless and Odorless Product
Whether you’re in pharmaceuticals or any oil-reliant industry, we offer a consultative approach to help you find the best white oils to meet and exceed your product specifications.
As the third largest US producer of white mineral oils, Renkert Oil has the capacity to supply your needs. And as logistics experts with over 30 years of experience, we’ll offer you best-in-industry supply chain optimization and security.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Renkert can meet your oil supply needs in your industry, contact us today!