Method for purifying dioctyl phthalate

A method of reducing the amount of phthalide in a composition comprising dioctyl phthalate, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a composition comprising dioctyl phthalate and phthalide;
• (b) contacting the composition with activated carbon or a silica containing material for a sufficient amount of time to allow the phthalide to contact the activated carbon or silica containing material;
• and
• (c) removing the composition from the activated carbon or silica containing material,
• wherein the composition obtained from step (c) has a reduced amount of phthalide when compared with the composition from step (a).

A method of making a plasticizer that meets international ISO standard 3826-1:2003(E), the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a composition comprising dioctyl phthalate and phthalide;
• (b) contacting the composition with activated carbon or a silica containing material for a sufficient amount of time to allow the phthalide to contact the activated carbon, silica gel, or diatomaceous earth;
• and
• (c) removing the composition from the activated carbon or the silica containing material to obtain a plasticizer,
• wherein the plasticizer obtained from step (c) meets international ISO standard 3826-1:2003(E).