How can you identify paraffin from FTIR?
This page summarizes the recurring FTIR evidence reported for paraffin, including the most frequent peaks, supporting functional groups, and literature-backed interpretation patterns. It is a structured evidence page, not a claim of automatic single-spectrum certainty.
Backed by 10 cited sources
Quick answer
paraffin is usually reported with a recurring pattern of peaks and functional-group evidence. The most useful approach is to cross-check at least two characteristic peaks before treating it as a match, then verify whether the full spectrum still fits the same material family.
Peak interpretation
Possible materials / groups
| Functional group | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Alkyl C-H | 11 |
| Amide | 5 |
| Ester | 3 |
| C=n | 2 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 2 |
| Methyl | 1 |
| Methacrylate | 1 |
| Ketone | 1 |
Spectrum logic
The logic here is evidence aggregation: repeated literature mentions of paraffin, repeated peak positions, and repeated functional-group associations. A strong material hypothesis should still be supported by multiple peaks that agree with each other, not by one headline band alone.
Real-world usage
This page is designed for polymer identification, incoming-material QC, unknown plastic analysis, recycled-content review, and literature-backed interpretation of reference spectra.
Common mistakes
- Calling a material match too early because one famous peak is present.
- Ignoring sample prep, fillers, oxidation, water, or additives that can change the apparent pattern.
- Using literature evidence without checking whether your own sampling mode and spectrum quality are comparable.
Verification advice
Use DSC, GC-MS, or TGA to validate the material hypothesis when the peak pattern is ambiguous or mixed.
Literature behind this page
-
confidence 0.95
paraffin
An Approach for Routine Analytical Detection of Beeswax Adulteration Using FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy DOI: 10.1515/JAS-2015-0018 -
confidence 0.8
paraffin
Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles dispersed in paraffin as solvent DOI: 10.1063/1.5082452 -
confidence 0.8
paraffin
Early detection of the initial stages of LED light-triggered non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by wax physisorption kinetics-Fourier transform infrared imaging DOI: 10.1039/d2an01546c -
confidence 0.8
paraffin
El Agrebi 等 - 2021 - Adulteration of beeswax A first nationwide survey DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252806 -
confidence 0.8
paraffin
Florentino-Madiedo 等 - 2018 - Influence of binder type on greenhouse gases and P DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.136. -
confidence 0.8
paraffin
Preparation, Characterization and Thermal Properties of Paraffin Wax – Expanded Perlite Form-Stable Composites for Latent Heat Storage DOI: 10.5755/j01.ms.23.1.13661 -
confidence 0.7
paraffin
Investigation of intervertebral disc degeneration using multivariate FTIR spectroscopic imaging DOI: 10.1039/c5fd00160a -
paraffin
Al Jedani 等 - 2020 - A de-waxing methodology for scanning probe microsc DOI: 10.1039/d0ay00965b -
paraffin
Oxidation of ultralene and paraffin due to radiation damage after exposure to soft X-rays probed by FTIR microspectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence DOI: 10.1107/S160057752001471X -
paraffin
Han 等 - 2020 - Effects of processing conditions on the properties DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.10.002.
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