DDS LAB - PREP 11: Mineral Oil Emulsion

Mineral Oil Emulsion

• A more palatable preparation compared to unemulsified oil.

• It is employed usually as a lubricating cathartic to manage constipation or bowel perforation prior to medical diagnostic procedures.

Methods of Emulsion Preparation

• Continental or Dry Gum Method

• English or Wet Gum Method

• Bottle or Forbes Bottle Method

• Auxiliary Methods

• In Situ Soap Method

Continental or Dry Gum Method

• Combining oil with dry gum (usually acacia)

• 4:2:1

  • 4 parts oil

  • 2 parts water

  • 1 part gum

• After mixing, water is added all at once to create the primary emulsion

• Not ideal for volatile or low-viscosity oils

English or Wet Gum Method

• The gum is initially combined with water to create mucilage

• After which the oil is gradually introduced while stirring continuously to form the emulsion

• More stable, but is slower compared to the dry gum method

Bottle or Forbes Bottle Method

• This method is applied for volatile or low-viscosity oils

• The gum and oil are shaken together in a bottle, with water gradually added afterward

• While more stable, this process is slower than the dry gum method

Auxiliary Methods

• This method utilizes mechanical devices, such as homogenizers, to decrease particle size and enhance emulsion stability

• It is frequently paired with other methods to improve the emulsion

• Special equipment is needed

• Excessive heat during the process can cause the emulsion to break down

In Situ Soap Method

• The emulsion is created through a chemical reaction between the oil and water phase, like the reaction of oleic acid with an alkali, producing soap that acts as the emulsifier

• This method is only effective for emulsions where the soap serves as a suitable emulsifier

• Maintaining proper pH is crucial to prevent emulsion breakdown

Mineral Oil Emulsion, USP

Official Title

Pharmaceutical Vehicle

Category

Liquid Petrolatum Emulsion and Liquid Paraffin Emulsion

Synonym

Lubricating Cathartic or Laxative

Use/s

Primary Emulsion

• It is the initial emulsion formed after incorporating all of the oil, water, and gum, depending on the method used

• Another term is Emulsion Nucleus

Tyndall Effect

• Scattering of light

• When the particle size is smaller, light can easily pass through and scatter

White

Appearance of this Droplet Size:

> 1nm

Blue White

Appearance of this Droplet Size:

0.1 nm - 1.0 nm

Translucent

Appearance of this Droplet Size:

0.5 nm - 0.1 nm

Transparent

< 0.05 nm

Active Ingredient (Laxative)

Function of Mineral Oil

Emulsifying Agent

Function of Acacia

Flavoring Agent

Function of Vanillin

Sweetener and Stabilizer

Function of Syrup

Preservative

Function of Alcohol

Solvent

Function of Purified Water

Continental or Dry Gum Method

Which Method will we use for this Preparation?

White, milky opaque, homogenous liquid

Acceptance Criteria:

Appearance

4.5 - 5

Acceptance Criteria:

pH

Colorless globules against colored background

Result in Dye-Solubility Test

Turns pink

Result in Cobalt (II) Chloride Test

Spotty fluorescence

Result in Fluorescence Test

Preserve in tight container at room temperature

Packaging Requirement

Shake well before using

Label