Mineral Oil Chemical Structure

Mineral oil has a wide variety of uses, from lubricant in pill capsules to dust control on many crops. Its specific chemical structure keeps mineral oil from being absorbed in the human body, and thus is typically used in small doses to avoid its laxative effects.

Chemical Structure

• Mineral oils are typically composed of liquid petroleum or liquid paraffin, which consists of n-alkanes and cyclic paraffins. This structure is chemically inert, and approximately 98 percent of mineral oil is unabsorbed by the body, although recent evidence reveals 2 percent is absorbed through the intestines and distributed harmlessly in the body.

White Mineral Oil

• White mineral oil, which is a mixture of liquid paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons from petroleum, is the only mineral oil approved by the FDA for human consumption as of November 2010. The percentage of allowable mineral oil varies in different food products from 0.02 to 0.3 percent.

Mineral Oil Uses

• White mineral oil is used as a release agent, binder or lubricant in products such as capsules and tablets, dehydrated fruits and vegetables and bakery products. It is also used as a dust control agent on crops such as wheat and rice.