Diethyl phthalate
chemical compound
Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is a phthalate ester with the formula C6H4(COOC2H5)2 (or C12H14O4). It is a colourless liquid without significant odour but with a bitter disagreeable taste.
Synthesis
Diethyl phthalate is produced by the reaction of ethanol with phthalic anhydride, in the presence of a strong acid catalyst:
Applications
It has been used as a plasticizer for cellulose acetate in many applications, the most common being scotch tape, film, eyewear frames, and biodegradable plastics; concentrations vary from 10% to 25% by weight. It is compatible as a plasticizer with most cellulose derivatives including nitrocellulose, as well as polystyrene (styrofoam), polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglass), polyvinyl acetate (white glue), polyvinyl butyral, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), though the less volatile and less migration-prone dibutyl phthalate or a heavier phthalate was often preferred for long-chain or higher molecular weight polymers.
It has been used in double-base propellants with high percentages of nitroglycerin. In these compositions, nitroglycerin acts as the plasticizer. The specific function of diethyl phthalate is not given. In ammonium perchlorate composite propellant, it has effects on viscosity similar to dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl adipate, but a higher density and lower fuel value than either.
It has also been used as a blender and fixative in perfume.
Biodegradation
Biodegradation by microorganisms
Biodegradation of DEP in soil occurs by sequential hydrolysis of the two diethyl chains of the phthalate to produce monoethyl phthalate, followed by phthalic acid.
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The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 2, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q419811. The Library of Congress control number is sh97000536. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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This entry incorporates text from “Diethyl phthalate” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.