Turpentine Oil

TURPENTINE OIL

Synonyms

Oleum terbinthae, rectified oil of turpentine.

Botanical Source

Turpentine oil is the volatile oil obtained by the distillation of oleoresin from Pinus longifolia Roxb and various species of Pinus, belonging to family Pinaceae.

Geographical Source

Pinus longifolia is cultivated in India and Pakistan, the other species are cultivated in the United States, France, Europe, and Russia.

Collection and Preparation

The oleoresins which are collected are transferred to copper stills, water is added and heated. The impurities like woody debris, sand, and other particles float on the surface of water which is skimmed off. The clarified resin is then subjected to distillation for obtaining the oil. The oil obtained is then treated with aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. The treatment with sodium hydroxide removes the traces of phenols, cresol, and resin acids. This oil which is produced is called the rectified turpentine oil.

Characteristics

Turpentine oil is a colourless to slightly yellowish trans-parent liquid with a strong characteristic odour and bitter, pungent taste. It is soluble in alcohol, insoluble in water, and miscible with glacial acetic acid, ether, chloroform, and fixed oil. Turpentine oil should be stored in air-tight containers and in a cool place.

Chemical Constituents

Oil of turpentine contains more than 40 terpenes; the chief terpenes are α- and β- pinene with small quantity of camphene, limonene, etc.

Uses

Turpentine oil is used as counterirritant, rubefacient, in swelling, neuralgia, as mild antiseptic, as an expectorant in chronic bronchitis, as diuretic, and urinary antiseptic. When taken internally it causes irritation of kidney also. In industries it is used in the preparation of disinfectants, insecticides, paints, varnishes, and pine oil.

Adulterants

The common adulterants are resin oil, wood turpentine, and petroleum jelly. The last adulterant is detected by low weight per ml of the oil and resin oil forms a stain of fatty matters on staining on a paper.

Marketed Products

It is one of the ingredients of the preparations known as Rumalaya gel and Pain balm (Himalaya Drug Company).