---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 C.F.R. § 172.888"
title: "21"
number: "172.888"
heading: "Synthetic petroleum wax."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/21/172.888"
---

# §172.888. Synthetic petroleum wax.


Synthetic petroleum wax may be safely used in or on foods in accordance with the following conditions:

- (a) Synthetic petroleum wax is a mixture of solid hydrocarbons, paraffinic in nature, prepared by either catalytic polymerization of ethylene or copolymerization of ethylene with linear (C3 to C12) alpha-olefins, and refined to meet the specifications prescribed in this section.
- (b) Synthetic petroleum wax meets the ultraviolet absorbance limits of [§ 172.886(b)](/cfr/21/172.886.md?p=b) when subjected to the analytical procedure described therein.
- (c) Synthetic petroleum wax has a number average molecular weight of not less than 500 nor greater than 1,200 as determined by vapor pressure osmometry.
- (d) Synthetic petroleum wax may contain any antioxidant permitted in food by regulations issued in accordance with [section 409](/cfr/21/409.md) of the act, in an amount not greater than that required to produce its intended effect.
- (e) **Synthetic petroleum wax is used or intended for use as follows—**

## Notes

### Amendments

[42 FR 14491, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 59 FR 10986, Mar. 9, 1994]

### Authority

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 341, 342, 348, 371, 379e.

### Source

Source: 42 FR 14491, Mar. 15, 1977, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[42 FR 14491, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 59 FR 10986, Mar. 9, 1994]