Parafiiniga

Parafiiniga refers to paraffin, a family of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) with long carbon chains. In common usage paraffin includes paraffin wax, a solid at room temperature, and liquid paraffin (mineral oil). The term has different nuances in various languages, but scientifically it denotes refined hydrocarbon mixtures derived from fossil fuels such as crude oil or shale oil.

Parafiin wax is produced during crude oil refining. Through distillation and dewaxing, the waxy components are separated and solidified to form blocks or pellets with a range of melting points. Liquid paraffin is the lower-viscosity fraction obtained from refining and is used as a mineral oil. Different grades exist, differing in melting point, viscosity, and purity.

Parafiiniga products have a wide range of applications. Paraffin wax is common in candles, coatings for paper or fruits, and cosmetic products such as moisturizers and spa paraffin baths. Liquid paraffin is used as a laxative, a solvent, a lubricant, and an ingredient in skin-care formulations. In scientific and medical contexts, paraffin is used to embed tissue samples for histology, where tissues are infiltrated with molten paraffin to form solid blocks for sectioning.

Safety and environmental aspects are important. Paraffin is flammable and should be kept away from open flames and high heat. Refined grades used in cosmetics or food-related applications are subject to purity standards. Environmental considerations include the fossil-fuel origin and the need for proper disposal and spill prevention.

See also: paraffin oil, paraffin wax, histology embedding.