MONTAGE - Petroleum Jelly - A Technical Exploration of Its History | Vol. 1, Iss. 12

Petroleum jelly, widely known under the trademark Vaseline, has been a cornerstone in both industrial and cosmetic applications since its inception in the 19th century. Beyond its widespread use, the technical innovation behind its refinement and the intellectual property protection granted through Robert Chesebrough's patent (US Patent No. 127,568) played a crucial role in solidifying its legacy.

The discovery of petroleum jelly can be traced back to 1859 in the oil fields of Titusville, Pennsylvania, where Robert Chesebrough, an industrial chemist, observed oil workers using a semi-solid substance called "rod wax" to treat cuts and burns. Recognizing its potential, Chesebrough took samples back to his laboratory in Brooklyn, New York, to begin the refining process.

In 1872, Chesebrough was granted US Patent No. 127,568, titled "Improvement in Products from Petroleum." This patent described a multi-step distillation and filtration process that transformed raw petroleum residue into a stable, purified, and semi-solid hydrocarbon compound suitable for medicinal and cosmetic use.

Key Claims of the Patent:

1. Raw Material Source: The patent specified the use of residues from crude petroleum distillation.
2. Refinement Process: Chesebrough described a multi-stage distillation process to remove impurities, including volatile hydrocarbons and unwanted waxes.
3. Filtration Technique: The purified distillate passed through fine filters, often made of bone charcoal, to achieve clarity and uniform texture.
4. Final Product Stability: The end product was chemically stable, odorless, and inert, ensuring long shelf life and safety for skin application.

This patent was groundbreaking because it transformed an industrial byproduct into a commercially viable, consumer-facing product.

Petroleum jelly is a hydrophobic mixture of hydrocarbons, comprising of -

1. Paraffinic Hydrocarbons: Long, straight-chain alkanes that provide structural stability and emolliency.
2. Microcrystalline Wax: Adds viscosity and enhances barrier formation on the skin.

The modern refinement process has further evolved with the use of vacuum distillation, solvent extraction and purification to ensure the final product is free from harmful contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Petroleum jelly has been extensively criticized due to its origin from fossil fuels. However, it's powerful occlusive properties result in significant reduction in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) making it a common ingredient in lip balms and barrier creams suitable for dry skin conditions. While natural alternatives are available using plant derived waxes and vegetable oils, petroleum jelly continues to be popular after 150 years. A well-known beauty treatment, “slugging” relies on the occlusive properties ?of petroleum jelly.

Disclaimer: The scientific content of this publication has been developed and designed by Bregma Science LLP.? The contents herein are referenced from various published works and/or expert opinions. Although greatest possible care has been taken in compiling, checking and developing the content to ensure that it is accurate and complete, the authors, the publisher, its employees or agents, shall not be responsible or in any way liable for any injury or damage to any persons in view of any reliance placed on or action taken basis of the information in this publication or any errors, omissions or inaccuracies and/or incompleteness of the information in this publication, whether arising from negligence or otherwise.