Extraction of Phthalates from Polyvinyl Chloride

Introduction

Phthalates are dangerous chemical toxins that can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive systems and have been linked to the alterations in DNA integrity. They have been used since the 1950s to soften plastics and can be found in products used on a daily basis, including personal care products, vinyl flooring, children’s lunch boxes, backpacks, and toys. Even more alarming is the presence of phthalates in items marketed toward and/or used by young children, who are more prone to put items in their mouths. Since they are not chemically bound to the plastic, phthalates are continuously leached into the environment, and people are exposed through repeated contact. The extraction of phthalates from plastics must be a quick and simple process, so that manufacturers can confidently release products that meet the safety guidelines of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The extraction of phthalates from plastics is difficult for a number of reasons. First, the low melting point of the plastic polymers makes them difficult to extract. Plastics must be transformed without melting in order to obtain a good extraction, and reaching this balance is challenging. Also, because of the complexity of samples, existing extraction methods, including Soxhlet and pressurized fluid extraction (both referenced in CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3), often yield extracts that are cloudy and contain multiple co-extracts, making analysis difficult. Furthermore, the traditional extraction methods referenced in CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3 can be timeconsuming and require large volumes of solvent. The EDGE is capable of producing a clean, filtered, and cooled extract that is ready for analysis in less than 15 minutes, using no more than 50 mL of solvent. Each 15 minute extraction cycle also includes an efficient solvent wash protocol that cleans the system and mitigates risk of carryover.