White Oil, also known as mineral white oil or light mineral oil, is a highly refined, clear, and odourless petroleum-based oil. Produced through multiple purification stages, including dewaxing, hydrotreating, and hydrocracking, white oil is free of aromatic hydrocarbons, sulphur, and nitrogen compounds—making it suitable for applications that demand purity, stability, and safety.
A Brief History
White oil traces its origins to the refinement advancements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where the demand for highly pure oils in medical, cosmetic, and food-related industries prompted the development of increasingly sophisticated distillation and hydrogenation methods. By the 1930s, white oils became indispensable in pharmaceuticals and food machinery lubrication due to their chemical inertness and physiological safety.
Key Applications
White oil is known for its versatility and non-toxicity, with widespread use across various industries:
- Pharmaceutical & Personal Care: Used in ointments, creams, laxatives, baby oils, and cosmetics as a base or emollient.
- Food Industry: Acts as a release agent, lubricant for food processing machinery, and dust suppressant for grain handling.
- Agriculture: Functions as a horticultural spray to control scale insects, aphids, and mites, especially in organic and integrated pest management systems.
- Plastics & Rubber: Aids as a plasticiser or extender in polymers, and provides anti-blocking or release properties.
- Textiles & Industrial Lubricants: Used in fibre processing and light machinery lubrication.
Innovations in White Oil Technology
In recent years, advancements in refining technology—especially hydroprocessing—have resulted in ultra-pure white oils with significantly lower aromatic and unsaturated compound levels. This has broadened their acceptability in sensitive medical, food-grade, and environmental applications.
Modern white oils are also being developed with custom viscosities and enhanced oxidative stability, enabling precise matching with specific manufacturing needs.
Positive Environmental Impact
While derived from petroleum, white oil carries several notable environmental advantages compared to other chemical agents:
- Low toxicity: Being highly refined, white oil poses minimal ecological and health risks when used correctly.
- Biodegradability: Although not rapidly biodegradable, white oils tend to break down over time and do not bioaccumulate like other synthetic organics.
- Agricultural use: As a physical-action pest control agent in horticulture, white oil is a low-residue alternative to chemical insecticides, reducing the ecological footprint of crop protection.
- VOC Compliance: Many modern white oil formulations are low in volatile organic compounds, meeting stringent environmental regulations.
Why Choose Redox for White Oil?
At Redox, we supply premium-quality white oils tailored particularly for pharmaceutical and food-grade applications, backed by comprehensive safety data and technical support. Whether you’re formulating cosmetics, manufacturing polymers, or cultivating crops, our white oil solutions are trusted for purity, consistency, and performance.
Contact Redox today to learn how our white oil range can safely, reliably, and sustainably meet your industry needs.