Comparison of the composition of some petroleum samples which may be applied for skin and mucous membrane treatment

A particular Croatian petroleum (sample P1) and its three derivatives (samp les P2, P3 and P4), potentially applied as healing preparations for skin an d mucous membrane treatment, were studied in order to learn their compositi on and to discriminate them according to two criteria: composition of natur al petroleum compounds, and lacking aromatics. Elemental (C, H, N and S) an d group composition (by LC, UV/VIS, IR and H-1 NMR) were determined and the single component distributions were analyzed (by GC) and identified (by CC -MS). Focussed saturated compounds (n-alkanes, pristane and phytane, driman es/eudesmanes, steranes and hopanes) were studied in order to emphasize the preservation or destruction of genuine petroleum structures in derivatives . Samples P3 (petroleum-brownish color, petroleum like smell) and P3 (color less, transparent, slight pine-like odor), were found, now constituting pet roleum, to still be composed of the components of their native structure. C ompared to sample Fl, they were missing light and heavy compounds. While sa mple PZ contained different compound classes, sample P3 comprised exclusive ly saturated hydrocarbons, satisfying pharmacopoeia's requirement regarding the low aromatics content. Almost a half of sample P3 was composed of cycl ic moieties, including terpenoids, possibly responsible for the odor. Sampl es Fl, P2 and P3 were found rather rich in steranes. Sample P4 (colorless, transparent, no smell) was found denaturalized. In spite of high similarity in bulk properties to sample P3, it comprised no detectable amount of n-al kanes, pristane and phytane, or drimanes/eudesmanes, steranes and hopanes ( although found rich in oligocycles). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.