Laboratory Exercises in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery System and Medical Devices

EXERCISE NO. 23

PREPARATION OF LIQUID PETROLATUM EMULSION

I. Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the exercise, the student should be able to
1. Identify the ingredients based on their physical characteristics and describe
their function in the preparations
2. Compound Liquid Petrolatum Emulsion using appropriate methods of
preparation
3. Select appropriate containers for the products
4. Prepare the labels for the products accurately and neatly
5. Comply with the standards and regulations set by CGCP

II. Discussion:
Emulsion is a two-phased system of two immiscible liquids, one of which is
dispersed throughout the other as small droplets. The components of emulsion has an
external, continuous phase or dispersion medium and an internal, discontinuous or
dispersed phase and an emulsifying agent.

The types of emulsion are oil-in-water and water-in-oil type depending on which
is the internal or external phase.

Emulsifying agents used are natural gums (acacia, agar, chondrus, pectin, and
tragacanth), or hydrophilic (Tween) or lipophilic agent (the esters of sorbitan and Span).
Other agents for emulsion include bentonite, cholesterol, gelatin, lecithin,
methylcellulose, soaps of fatty acids, sodium docusate, sodium lauryl sulfate and
triethanolamine.

Advantages of emulsion over other liquid forms include (1) the therapeutic
properties and spreading ability of the constituents are increased, (2) unpleasant taste
and odor of the oil can be partially or wholly masked by the process of emulsification (3)
the absorption and penetration of medicaments are more easily controlled if they are
incorporated into an emulsion, (4) emulsion action is more prolonged and the emollient
effect is greater than that observed with comparable preparations, and (5) water is not
only an inexpensive diluents but is of great value as a solvent for many drugs and
flavors that are incorporated into emulsions.

III. Materials
Acacia Powder Beaker
Alcohol Graduated Cylinder
Mineral Oil Mettler Balance
Purified Water Mortar and Pestle
Syrup Watch Glass
Vanillin

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Laboratory Exercises in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery System and Medical Devices

IV. Formula
Mineral Oil.........................................................500 mL
Acacia Powde...................................................125 g
Syrup.................................................................100 mL
Vanillin................................................................40 mL
Alcohol................................................................60 mL
Purified Water, qs.ad......................................1 000 mL
**Note: 4 parts oil: 2 parts water: 1 part gum

V. Compounding Procedure
1. Weigh all the ingredients accurately.
2. Mix mineral oil and acacia powder in a dry mortar.
3. Add 250 mL of purified water and triturate vigorously until an emulsion is formed.
4. In another container, mix syrup, 50 mL of purified water and vanillin previously
dissolved in alcohol.
5. Add this mixture in divided portions with trituration to the mineral oil-acacia
mixture in the mortar.
6. Add sufficient purified water to make the required volume.
7. Mix well and homogenize.
8. Place in an appropriate container
9. Label the container properly.

III. Questions:
1. What instruction will you give to the patient when you dispense emulsion?
2. What are the classes of emulsifying agents? Give an example for each class.
3. What are the methods of Preparing Emulsion?

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Laboratory Exercises in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery System and Medical Devices

Name: ________________________________ Date: ______________________

Year and Section: _______________________ Rating: ____________________

EXERCISE NO. 23

PREPARATION OF TURPENTINE OIL EMULSION

Synonym/Latin Name:
Use of Preparation:
Method of Preparation:
Appropriate Container:
Storage Condition:

Formula for 15 mL:

Ingredients Quantity Use in Formula

Calculations:

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Laboratory Exercises in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery System and Medical Devices

Answers to Question:
1. What instruction will you give to the patient when you dispense emulsion?

2. What are the classes of emulsifying agents? Give an example for each class.

3. What are the methods of Preparing Emulsion?

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