Petroleum jelly is extracted from petroleum oil, which itself is derived from processed crude oil. The process involves specific refining steps to separate the desired jelly-like substance.
Based on refining practices, the extraction of petroleum jelly from petroleum oil is primarily achieved through a two-step process:
- Vacuum Distillation: After crude oil is processed into petroleum oil by extracting liquid hydrocarbons, the remaining residue undergoes vacuum distillation. This process uses reduced pressure to lower the boiling points of components, allowing for the separation of heavier fractions at lower temperatures.
- Filtration: The residue from the vacuum distillation is then further purified by filtration. According to refining methods, this filtration is typically done through bone char. This material helps to remove impurities and decolorizes the substance.
These steps yield petroleum jelly, which is famously known as the primary ingredient in products like Vaseline.
