DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
 DUS  191:2015  
Second  Edition  
2015 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 191: 2015 
© UNBS 2015   
  
Petroleum jelly — Specification 
 DUS 191: 2015 
ii © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2015   
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala 
Uganda 
Tel: 256 414 505 995 
Fax: 256 414 286 123 
E-mail: info @unbs .go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  DUS 191: 2015 
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents Page  
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................ iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ...................... 5 
2 Normative references  ................................................................ ................................ ............................ 5 
3 Description  ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ............. 5 
4 Quality Requirements  ................................................................ ................................ ........................... 5 
4.2 General requirements  ................................................................ ................................ ........................... 5 
4.2.2  Solubility  ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................ 5 
4.2.3  Colour  ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ..................... 5 
4.2.4  Odour  ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ...................... 6 
4.2.5  Bleeding  ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................. 6 
4.3 Specific requirements  ................................................................ ................................ ........................... 6 
4 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................ 7 
5 Packing, marking and storage  ................................ ................................................................ ............. 7 
5.1 Packing  ................................ ................................ .......................................Error! Bookmark not defined.  
5.2 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................... 7 
5.3 Storage  ................................ ................................ .......................................Error! Bookmark not defined.  
Annex A (normative)  Method of test for petroleum jelly for cosmetic use ................................................. 8  
Annex B (informative)  Sampling of petroleum jelly ..................................................................................... 16 
Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 
 DUS 191: 2015 
iv © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda, as amended.  UNBS is mandated to co-
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT Agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out ythrough Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Draft Standards DUS 191:2015 was developed by UNBS/TC 5-Chemcial and environment. 
 DUS 191: 2015  
©UNBS  2015  – All rights reserved  5 
 Petroleum jelly — Specification 
1 Scope 
This Draft Uganda Standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and test for petroleum 
jelly for cosmetic use.  
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies. 
DEAS 346,  Labelling of cosmetics — General requirements 
DEAS 377-2 , Cosmetics — List of substances which must not form part of the composition of any cosmetic 
product. 
DEAS 377-3 , Cosmetics — List of substances which cosmetics must not contain except subject to the 
restrictions and conditions laid down. 
ASTM D217 –  10, Standard Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease  
 
3 Description 
Petroleum jelly is a translucent, soft mass, greasy  to touch and it retains these characteristic s on storage.  
It may contain fragrances or herbal extracts/ powder .  
4 Quality Requirements 
4.2 General requirements  
4.2.1  All the ingredients used shall conform to the requirements in DEAS 377-2 and DEAS 377- 3. 
4.2.2 Solubility  
Petroleum jelly shall be insoluble in water and ethanol (96%), but soluble in diethyl ether, dichloromethane, 
benzene, carbon disulphide, hexane and chloroform. 
4.2.3 Colour  
Petroleum jelly may be coloured using substances conforming to DEAS 377-2 and DEAS 377- 3.  
6 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 4.2.4 Odour 
The material shall be not of an objectionable odour at room temperature when rubbed on the skin.  
4.2.5  Bleeding 
Petroleum jell shall not bleed under normal conditions of storage. 
4.3 Specific requirements 
4.3.1  Petroleum jelly shall conform with the requirements given in Table 1, when tested according to 
methods given in Annex A. Reference to the relevant clauses of Annex A is given in the third column of the 
table. 
 
Table 1 — Requirements for petroleum jelly for cosmetic use 
Characteristics  Requirements  Method of test (Clause 
number to be referred)  Pure  Herbal/perfumed  
Kinematic viscosity at 100°C 
Cst 4  6.8 4  6.8 A.2 
Melting point °C  46 to 60  46 to 60  A.3 
Specific gravity at 60°C, g/cc  0.815 to 0.88 0 0.815 to 0.880  A.4 
pH 4.5 – 7.0 4.5 – 7.0 A.5 
Saponifiable matter  NIL NIL A.6 
Organic acids  To pass the test  To pass the test  A.7 
Sulphated ash, % by mass, 
max Not greater than 0.10  Not greater than 0.15  A.8 
Sulphur and sulphides  To pass the test  To pass the test  A.9 
Iodine Value (Wijs) max , units:  1.5 1.5 A.12 
Light absorption  of 0.005 per 
cent w/v solution in 2.2.4 -
trimethyl -pentane at 
290nm,max  Not greater than 0.8  Not greater than 0.8  A.13 
Cone penetration value at 
25°C  100-275 1/10mm in 
check ing for consistency 
and hardness of jellies  100-275 1/10mm in checking 
for consistency and hardness 
of jellies  ASTM -D 217  
Volatile matters, % m/m, max.  5 5 A.14 
 
4.3.2  The products shall conform to the limits for contaminants in accordance with Table 4. 
Table 4: Limits for contaminants in petroleum jelly for cosmetic use 
S/N Contaminant*  Requirement  Method of test  
1 Lead, mg/kg , max  20 Annex C  
2 Arsenic, mg/kg , max  2 Annex D  
3 Mercury, mg/kg , max  2 Annex E  
*The total amount of heavy metals as lead, me rcury and arsenic, in combination, in the finished product sh all not exceed 
20 mg/kg .  
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  7 
 4 Sampling and sample preparation 
The method of sampling and preparing representative test samples of the material and the criteria for 
conformity shall be as prescribed in Annex B.  
5 Pack aging 
Petroleum jelly shall be pack aged in containers that shall protect the contents, effectively screen the content 
from UV light when stored and shall not cause any contamination or reaction with the product.  
The containers shall be securely closed. 
The net content shall be in accordance with the Weight and measures regulations of the Partner States. 
6 Labelling  
In addition to the labelling requirements of DEAS 346, the following information shall be indelibly and legibly 
marked on the container: 
a) Product name  that is “Pure, Perfumed and/or Herbal Petroleum Jelly”;  
b) Net contents; 
c) Name and physical address of manufacturer, distributor or supplier and trade mark  
d) Lot identification e.g. batch number in code or otherwise;  
e) the date of m anufacture in the form ”mm/yyyy”, and  
f) best before date in the form ”mm/yyyy”;  
g) Country of origin 
h) Indicate storage conditions  
8 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 Annex A 
(normative)  
 
Method of test for petroleum jelly for cosmetic use 
A.1 Quality of reagents 
Unless specified otherwise, analytical grade reagents and water of distilled quality (as described in EAS 123: 
1999, Water-distilled quality — Specification) shall be employed in test. 
A.2 Determination of kinematic viscosity 100°C – Using a capillary Viscometer 
A.2.1 Determination 
The kinematic viscosity is determined by using the viscometers. The specific details of operation vary for 
different types of viscometers.  
A.2.2 Procedure 
 
The time is measured for a fixed volume of sample, contained ina glass of viscometer, to flow through a 
calibrated capillary under an accurately reproducible head of liquid and at 100 °C. This temperature must be 
controlled. The viscometer selected should give an efflux time greater than 200 s. The kinematic viscosity is 
calculated from the measured efflux time. The viscometer is calibrated by using standard oil having viscosities 
established with reference to water in master viscometers or by direct comparison with carefully calibrated 
viscometers. The temperatures of the bath used shall be maintained within ± 0.01 °C. 
A.3 Determination of melting point 
A.3.1  Melt a quantity of the sample slowly while stirring until it reaches a temperature of 90 °C to 92 °C. 
Remove the source of heat and allow the molten sample to cool to a temperature of 8 °C to 10 °C above the 
expected melting point. Chill the bulb of a thermometer (range: 1 °C to 100 °C) to 5 °C, wipe it dry and while it 
is still cold, dip it into molten sample so that approximately half of the bulb is “submerged" Withdraw it 
immediately and hold it vertically away from heat until the wax surface dulls,then dip it for 5 min into a water 
bath having a temperature not higher than 16 °C. 
A.3.2  Fix the thermometer prepared in A.3.1 securely in a test tube so that its lowest point is about 15 mm 
above the bottom of the test tube. Suspend the test tube in a water bath adjusted to 16 °C, and raise the 
temperature of the bath at a rate of 1 degree/min and note the temperature at which the first drop of the 
melted sample leaves the thermometer. Repeat the determination twice on a freshly melted portion of the 
sample. If the variation in three determinations is less than one degree take the average of three as the 
melting point. If the variation in the three determinations is more than one degree, make two additional 
determinations and take the average of the five.   
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  9 
 A.4 Determination of specific gravity 
A.4.1 Apparatus 
A.4.1.1 Specific gravity bottle, 25 ml capacity, with a well- fitting ground glass stopper with a 
capillary. 
A.4.1.2 Water bath, maintained at 60 °C ± 1 °C  
A.4.2 Procedure 
A.4.2.1  Clean and dry the specific gravity bottle, and weigh it. Then fill it with water, insert the stopper and 
immerse in the water bath at 60 °C ± 1 °C. Keep the entire bulb completely immersed in water and hold at that 
temperature for 1 h. carefully remove any water which has exuded from the capillary opening. Remove from 
the bath, wipe completely dry, cool to room temperature and weigh. 
A.4.2.2  Melt approximately 40 g of the material in a porcelain dish and fill the dry specific gravity bottle 
with it. Keep the bottle for 1 h in a water bath at 60 °C ± 1 °C. Carefully remove any material which exudes 
from the capillary opening, wipe the bottle dry and cool at room temperature and weigh.  
A.4.3 Calculation 
Specifc gravity 60°C/ 60°C= 
2 32 1
mmmm
  
Where 
 m1 is the mass, in grammes, of specific gravity bottle with the material 
m2 is the mass, in grammes, of the specific of the gravity bottle 
m3 is the mass, in grammes, of the specifc gravity bottle with water. 
A.5 Acidity and alkalinity  
A.5.1 Reagents 
A.5.1.1 Phenolphthalein indicator solution, 1 % solution in 95 % rectified spirit. 
A.5.1.2 Methyl orange indicator, dissolve 0.01 g of methyl orange in 100 ml of water.  
A.5.2  Procedure 
A.5.2.1  Take 35 g, of the sample in a 250 ml separating funnel. Add to it 100 ml of boiling water and 
shake vigorously for 5 min. Draw off the separated water layer in the beaker. Wash the sample further with 
two 50 ml portions of boiling water and add the washings again to the beaker. To the collective washings add 
one drop of phenolphthalein indicator solution and boil. If no pink colour is produced, add 0.1 ml of methyl 
orange indicator and see if any red or pink colour is produced.  
A.5.2.2  The sample shall be taken to have passed the test if neither a red colour is produced with 
phenolphthalein nor a pink colour produced.  
10 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 A.6 Determination of saponifiable matter 
A.6.1 Reagents 
A.6.1.1 Methyl ethyl ketone, analytical grade, stored in amber coloured bottle. 
A.6.1.2 Standard alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution, 0.5 mol/L standardized before use.  
A.6.1.3 Petroleum ether, boiling range 80 °C to 100 °C. 
A.6.1.4 Standard hydrochloric acid, 0.5 mol/L accurately standardized.  
A.6.1.5 Phenolphthalein indicator solution, same as in A.5.1.1.  
A.6.2 Procedu re 
A.6.2.1  Accurately weigh in flask about 5 g of the sample and add 25 ml ± 1 ml of methyl ethyl ketone, 
followed by 25mL standard alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution from a burette. Connect the flask to a 
condenser and heat for half an hour after refluxing begins. Disconnect the condenser, add 50 ml of petroleum 
ether and titrate the solution while hot (without heating) with standard hydrochloric acid, using three drops of 
phenolphthalein indicator. When the indicator colour is discharged add three drops more of the indicator. If 
this addition restores the colour, continue the titration. Proceed in this manner until the end point is reached 
when the indicator colour is discarded and does not immediately reappear upon the addition of three more 
drops of indicator. 
A.6.2.2  Run a blank under identical conditions. 
A.6.2.3  The sample shall be taken to have passed the requirement prescribed in Table 1 if the blank 
reading does not differ from the sample reading by more than 0.1 ml. 
A.7 Test for organic acids 
A.7.1 Reagents 
A.7.1.1  Dilute rectified spirit, prepared by diluting one volume of 95 % rectified spirit with two volumes of 
water, and neutralized to phenolphthalein indicator.  
A.7.1.2 Phenolphthalein indicator, same as in A.5.1.1.  
A.7.1.3 Standard sodium hydroxide solution, exactly 0.1 mol/L 
A.7.2 Procedure 
A.7.2.1  Add 100 ml of dilute rectified spirit to 20 g of the sample, agitate thoroughly, and heat to boiling. 
Add 1 ml of phenolphthalein indicator and titrate rapidly with standard sodium hydroxide solution with vigorous 
agitation to a sharp pink end point in the alcohol water layer. 
A.7.2.2  The material shall be taken to have passed the test if not more than 0.4 ml of standard sodium 
hydroxide solution is required for the titration.  
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  11 
 A.8 Determination of sulfated ash 
A.8.1 Reagents 
Dilute sulfuric acid, approximately 2.5 mo1/L 
A.8.2  Heat a platinum dish to redness for 10 min; allow to cool in a desiccator and weigh. Place 1 g of the 
sample in the dish, moisten with sulfuric acid, and ignite gently by means of a Bunsen burner. Again moisten 
with sulfuric acid and ignite at about 800 °C in a muffle furnace. Cool and weigh, again ignite for 15 min and 
repeat this procedure until two successive weighings do not differ by more than 0.5 mg.  
A.8.3 Calculation 
Sulfated ash, percent by mass =
21100
mxm  
where 
m1 is the mass in grams of the residue; 
m2 is the mass in grams of the sample taken for the test. 
A.9 Determination of sulfur and sulfides  
A.9.1 Reagents 
Copper strips, 1 cm in width, and freshly polished.  
A.9.2 Procedure 
A.9.2.1  Melt in a beaker about 100 g of the sample and keep on a water bath at a temperature of 95 °C. 
Then place a strip of copper in the melted sample so that it is partially immersed in it and allow to remain for 
10 min.  
A.9.2.2  The material shall be taken to have passed the test if the copper strip used in the test shows no 
tarnishing when compared with another freshly polished copper strip. 
A.10 Determination of arsenic  
A.10.1 Reagents 
A.10.1.1 Concentrated sulfuric acid, reagent grade. 
A.10.1.2 Concentrated nitric acid, reagent grade.  
A.10.2 Preparation of sample 
A.10.2.1  Weigh 2.00 g of the sample in a Kjeldahl flask of 500 ml capacity. Add 15 ml of concentrated 
sulfuric acid followed by 4 ml of concentrated nitric acid. Heat cautiously. Add drop- by-drop more nitric acid, if 
required, from a pipette to speed up the oxidation of the sample. The total amount of nitric acid shall be noted 
for use in control test. When oxidation is complete the solution is clear and faint yellow, at that stage, add 20 
ml of water and again boil to fuming, Ensure removal of all nitric acid.   
12 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 A.10.2.2  Carry out test for arsenic with the solution prepared in A.10.2.1 as described in EAS 101:2000 
(see Clause 2). Compare the stain obtained with that produced with 0.004 g of arsenic trioxide.  
A.11 Determination of heavy metals  
A.11.1 Reagents 
A.11.1.1 Ammonium acetate solution,  10 %.  
A.11.1.2 Ammonium citrate solution,  dissolve 8.75 g of citric acid in water, neutralize with ammonia and 
dilute with water to 100 ml. 
A.11.1.3 Ammonium hydroxide,  10 % (m/m).  
A.11.1.4 Potassium cyanide solution,  10 %.  
A.11.1.5 Sodium sulfide solution,  10 %.  
A.11.1.6  Standard lead solution, dissolve 16 g of lead nitrate in water and 10 ml of concentrated HNO3 
and dilute to 1000 ml. Pipette out 10 ml of the solution and dilute again to 1000 ml with water. 1 ml of the final 
solution contains 0.01 mg of lead (as Pb). The solution should be freshly prepared.  
A.11.2 Procedure 
A.11.2.1  In the preparation of sample treat 2.0 g of the sample as prescribed in A.10.2.  
A.11.2.2  Take the solution prepared in A.11.2.1 in a Nessler tube (with 50 ml capacity); add 10 ml of 
ammonium acetate solution, (5 ml capacity); add 10 ml of ammonium acetate solution, 5 ml of ammonium 
hydroxide and 1 ml of potassium cyanide solution and dilute to 50 ml with water, then add two drops of sodium 
sulfide solution and mix well. In another Nessler tube carry out a control test using 4 ml of standard lead 
solution and same quantities of other reagents as used in the test with the material. 
A.11.2.3  The material shall be taken to have passed the test as given in Table 1 if the intensity of colour 
produced with material is not greater than that produced in the control test. 
A.12 Determination of iodine value  
A.12.1 Apparatus 
 The material is treated with a known excess of iodine monochloride solution in glacial acetic acid. The excess 
of iodine monochloride is determined iodometrlcally. Thermometer, an engraved stem thermometer, calibrated 
between 10 °C and 65 °C in 0.1 degree intervals and with the 0 °C point marked on the steam is 
recommended. The thermometer shall have an auxiliary reservoir at the upper end, and length of about 370 
mm and diameter of about 6 mm. 
A.12.2 Reagents 
A.12.2.1 Carbon tetrachloride or chloroform. 
A.12.2.2  Acetic acid, glacial. 99 %, having a melting point of 14.8 °C and free from reducing impurities. 
Determine the melting point of the acetic acid and test it for reducing impurities as it follows:  
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  13 
 a) Melting point determination — Take a 15 cm long test tube and fill it to about two thirds with the acetic 
acid. Insert into the acid a thermometer satisfying the requirements specified in A.12.1 through a cork stopper 
fitting the test tube. The amount of acid should be at least double the quantity required to cover the bulb of the 
thermometer when the bottom of the latter is 12 mm from the bottom of the test tube. Suspend this tube within 
a larger test tube through a cork. Cool the acid by immersing the assembly in ice water until the temperature is 
10 °C, then withdraw the assembly from the ice water and stir the acid rather vigorously for a few moments, 
thus causing the super-cooled liquid to crystallize partially and give: a mixture of liquid and solid acid. Take 
thermometer readings every 15 s and consider the temperature at which the reading remains constant for at 
least 2 min as the true melting point.  
b) Test for reducing impurities — Potassium permanganate test, dilute 2 ml of acetic acid with 10 ml of 
water and add 0.1 ml of 0.5 ml potassium permanganate solution and maintain at 27 °C ± 2 °C. The test shall 
be taken as having been satisfied if the pink colour is not discharged at the end of 2 h.  
A.12.2.3 Potassium dichromate, finely ground.  
A.12.2.4  Starch solution, mix 5 g of starch and 0.01 g of mercuric iodide with 30 ml of cold water and 
slowly pour it while stirring into 1 litre of boiling water. Boil for 3 min. Allow the solution to cool and decant off 
the supernatant clear liquid. 
A.12.2.5  Standard sodium thiosulfate solution, 0.2 mol/L. 
A.12.2.6  Chlorine gas, dry.  
A.12.2.7  Iodine trichloride. 
A.12.2.8  Wijs iodine monochloride solution, prepare this solution by one of the following methods, and 
store in a glass stoppered bottle in a cool place, protected from light and sealed with paraffin until taken for 
use. 
a) Dissolve 3 g of re-sublimed iodine in 1 L of acetic acid, using gentle heat if necessary, and determine the 
length by titration with standard sodium thiosulfate solution. Set aside 50 ml to 100 ml of solution and 
introduce washed and dried chlorine gas into the remainder until the characteristic colour change occurs and 
the halogen content is nearly doubled as ascertained again by titration. If the halogen content has been more 
than doubled, reduce it by adding the requisite quantity of the iodine - acetic acid solution. A slightly excess of 
iodine does not harm, but avoid an excess of chlorine.  
For example, if the titration of 20 ml of original iodine acetic acid solution requires 22 ml of standard sodium 
thiosulfate solution then 20 ml of the finished Wijs solution should require between 43 ml and 44 ml (and not 
more than 44 ml) of the same sodium thiosulfate. 
b) As an alterative method of preparing Wijs solution dissolve 8 g of iodine trichloride inapproximately 450 
ml of acetic acid. Dissolve separately 9 g of iodine in 450 ml, of acetic acid using heat if necessary. Add 
gradually the iodine solution to the iodine trichloride solution until the colour has changed to reddish brown. 
Add 50 ml more of iodine solution and dilute the mixture with acetic acid till 10 ml of the mixture are equivalent 
to 20ml standard sodium thiosulfate solution when the halogen content is estimated by titration in the 
presence of an excess to potassium iodine and water. Heat the solution at 100 °C for 20 min and cool. 
Prevent access of water vapour in preparing the solution.  
A.12.3 Procedure 
Melt the material and filter through the filter paper to remove any impurities and the last trace of moisture. 
Make sure that the glass apparatus used is absolutely clean and dry. Weigh accurately by difference, about 
10 g of the sample, into a clean, dry 500 ml glass stoppered bottle to which 25 ml of carbon tetrachloride or 
chloroform have been added, and agitate to dissolve the contents. Add 25 ml of Wijs solution (the quantity of 
Wijs solution added is 50 % - 60% more than the quantity required).  
Replace the glass stopper after wetting with potassium iodine solution, swirl for intimate mixing, and allow to 
stand in the dark for 45 min. Carry out a blank test simultaneously under similar experimental conditions. After  
14 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 standing add 15 ml of potassium iodide solution and 100 ml of water, and titrate the liberated iodine with 
standard sodium thiosulfate solution, swirling the contents of the bottle continuously to avoid any local excess, 
until the colour of the solution is straw yellow. Add 0.5 ml of starch solution and continue the titration until the 
blue colour disappears. 
 
A.12.4 Calculation 
Iodine value =
mMVV ) (69.122 1  
where 
V1 is the volume, in millilitre, of standard sodium thiosulfate required for the blank; 
V2 is the volume, in millilitre, of standard sodium thiosulfate solution required for the material; 
M is the molarity of standard sodium thiosulphate; and 
m is the mass, in grams, of the material taken for the test. 
A.13 Determination of light absorption 
A.13.1 Apparatus 
UV spectrophotometer 
A.13.2  Make of solution of 0.05 % m/v of the petroleum jelly in 2, 2, 4 – trimethylpentane, then determine the 
absorbency at 290 nm 
A.14 Determination of volatile matter 
A.14.1 Outline of the method 
The sample is weighed in petri/glass dish and kept in an oven maintained at 105 ± 1°C. The loss in mass is 
calculated as percentage of the mass of the sample taken. 
A.14.2 Apparatus 
A.14.2.1 Petri/Glass dishes — Made of heat resistant glass, 90 to 100 mm in diameter and 7 to 10 mm in 
height. 
A.14.2.2 Thermometer  Any suitable thermometer having a range from 0 to 110° C. 
A.14.2.3 Air-Oven  An electrically or gas heated air oven capable of maintaining temperature at 105 ± 
1°C 
A.14.3 Procedure 
Weigh about 10g of the sample, accurately to the nearest 0.1g, in a tare petri/glass dish, distributing the 
sample in as uniform a layer as possible with the help of a spatula over the whole of bottom of the dish. Kee p 
it in the oven, maintained at 105 ± 1°C for 24 h. Cool and weigh the petri/glass dish to a constant mass.  
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  15 
 A.14.4 Calculation and report 
Calculate and report the evaporation loss as follows: 
Volatile matter per cent = 

12_1100
MM M  
Where, 
M1 = mass in g of the sample taken for the test 
M2 = mass in g of the sample after the test 
  
16 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 Annex B  
(informative) 
 
Sampling of petroleum jelly 
B.1 General requirements of sampling 
In drawing, preparing, storing and handling test samples the: following precautions and directions shall be 
observed. 
B.1.1 Samples shall not be taken in an exposed place.  
B.1.2  The sampling instrument shall be clean and dry. 
B.1.3  Precaution shall be taken .to protect the samples, the materials being sampled, the sampling 
instrument and the containers or samples from adventitious contamination.  
B.1.4  To draw representative sample, the content of each container selected for sampling shall be mixed as 
thoroughly as possible by suitable means.  
 
B.1.5  The samples shall be kept in clean dry airtight glass or other suitable containers. 
B.1.6  The sample containers shall be of such a size that they are almost completely filled by the sample.  
B.1.7  Each sample container shall be sealed airtight with a suitable stopper after filling, and marked with full 
details of sampling, the date of sampling and the year of manufacture of the material. 
B.2 Scale of sampling 
B.2.1 Lot,  
All the containers in a single consignment of the material drawn from a single batch of manufacture shall 
constitute a lot. If a consignment is declared or known to consist of different batches of manufacture, the 
containers belonging to the same batch shall be grouped together and each such group shall constitute a 
separate lot. 
B.2.2  Samples shall be tested from each lot for ascertaining conformity of the material to the requirement of 
this specification  
B.2.3  The number of containers (n) to be chosen from the lot shall depend on the size of the lot (N) and 
shall be as given in Table 2.  
B.2.4  The containers to be selected for sampling shall be chosen at random from the lot and for this 
purpose, random number tables shall be used. In case such tables are not available, the following procedure 
may be adopted. 
Starting from any container count 1, 2, 3 r and so on in a systematic manner, where r is the integral part of N/n 
Every rth container thus counted shall be withdrawn from the lot.  
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  17 
  
Table 2 — Number of containers to be selected for sampling (B2.3) 
Lot size N  Number of contai ners to be selected, n  
3 to 5  3 
51 to 200  4 
201 to 400  5 
401 to 650  6 
Greater than 650  7 
 
B.3 Test samples and referee sample 
B.3.1 Preparation of test samples 
B.3.1.1  Draw with an appropriate sampling instrument a small portion of the material from different pans 
of each container selected (see Table 2). The total quantity of the material drawn from each container shall be 
sufficient to conduct the tests for all the characteristics given in Clause 3 and shall not be less than 250 g. 
B.3.1.2  Thoroughly mix all portions of the material drawn from the same container. Out of these portions, 
equal quantities shall be taken from each selected container and shall be well mixed up together so as to form 
a composite sample weighing not less than 0.5 kg. This composite sample shall be divided into three equal 
parts, one for the purchaser, the supplier and the third for the referee .shall be used in case of dispute 
between the two.  
B.4 Number of tests 
Tests .for all the characteristics given in Table 1 shall be conducted on the composite sample. 
B.5 Criteria for conformity' 
A lot shall be declared as conforming to this specification if the composite sample satisfies the requirements 
for each of the characteristics listed in Table 1. If the requirements for any of the characteristics are not met, 
the lot shall be declared to have not satisfied the requirements of the specification. 
  
18 © UNBS 2015  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography 
[1] British pharmacopoeia 1980 
[[2] IS 4887:1980 , Specification for Petroleum Jelly for cosmetic industry , published by Indian Standards 
Institution. 
[3] US pharmacopoeia 1980 
[4] EAS 124:1999 , Rounding off numerical values  
[5] EAS 123:1999 , Water-distilled quality — Specification 
[6] EAS 101:2000 , Foodstuffs — Method of determination of arsenic  
  
© UNBS 2015 – All rights reserved  19 
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 US nnnn -n: yyyy    
 
ICS nn.nnn.nn  
Price based on nn pages 
© UNBS yyyy– All rights reserved