Differences between DEHP, DOP and DINP
Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP), referred to as dioctyl phthalate, is an organic ester compound and a commonly used plasticizer. Dioctyl phthalate is an important general-purpose plasticizer, mainly used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride resins, and can also be used in the processing of chemical fiber resins, acetate resins, ABS resins and rubber and other polymers, and can also be used in paint, dyes, dispersants, etc.
Recently, news about the illegal addition of "plasticizers" (plasticizers) and "clouding agents" (emulsifiers) containing toxic chemicals in beverages in Taiwan often involves the English abbreviations of DEHP, DOP, and DINP. What are these compounds and what are the differences between them?
Understanding of DEHP and DOP
The following is a brief introduction: In fact, DEHP and DOP are both dioctyl phthalate, but they are formed by the abbreviations of common English chemical names in different regions. In Europe, the English name of dioctyl phthalate is Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DiEthyl Hexyl Phthalate, and its abbreviation is DEHP; in other countries, its English chemical name is also called DiOctyl Phthalate, which is abbreviated as DOP. Therefore, this is just a chemical name, and it is wrong to treat them as two compounds in news reports.
Understanding of DINP
This is also an industrial "plasticizer" (plasticizer), called diisononyl phthalate, English: Diisononyl phthalate, DINP is the abbreviation of its English chemical name. Its chemical formula is: C6H4[COO(CH2)6CH(CH3)2]2. Diisononyl phthalate, referred to as DINP, is a transparent oily liquid with a slight odor. This product is a general-purpose main plasticizer with excellent performance.
Comparison between DINP and DOP (DEHP)
1. DINP has good compatibility with PVC and will not precipitate even if used in large quantities; its volatility, migration and non-toxicity are better than DOP, and it can give products good light resistance, heat resistance, aging resistance and electrical insulation performance, and its comprehensive performance is better than DOP.
2. Since the products produced by DINP have good water resistance and extraction resistance, low toxicity, aging resistance and excellent electrical insulation performance, they are widely used in toy films, wires and cables.
3. DEHP is slightly cheaper than DINP in terms of price.
4. DINP has lower acute toxicity to animals than DEHP, and is not currently listed as a toxic substance by my country's Environmental Protection Agency. The European Union lists DINP as an environmental hormone, while the United States and Japan do not. Compared with DEHP, DINP has almost no effect on the reproduction or development of experimental animals.
In summary, DINP is relatively safer than DEHP (DOP), but it is only an industrial plasticizer and does not have the scope of safe food additives. Both compounds are oily and insoluble in water; therefore, they are used by unscrupulous manufacturers in Taiwan as substitutes for palm oil and sunflower oil.