Direct Extraction of Phthalate Esters from Polymeric Gloves Materials

Abstract

Phthalate esters (PAEs) have been widely added as the plasticizer to increase the flexibility and ductility of polymeric materials. In this study, organic solvents, such as methanol, hexane, ethyl ether and acetone, were used for the direct extraction of plasticizers in neoprene, nitrile, and PVC gloves, under a temperature range of 20-80°C. The results showed that DEHP (Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) and DBP (Di-n-butyl phthalate) were analyzed in all three glove samples. The extraction capability of PAEs from the PVC gloves was the highest, while that from the neoprene gloves was the lowest. It was found that the extraction capabilities of DEHP from the glove samples were proportional to Log Kow of the extraction solvents. This result implied that PAEs were more soluble in a non-polar solvent and likely to be extracted from the glove samples. In addition, the amount of extracted PAEs increased with the experimental temperatures. As workers wearing the chemical protective gloves, there is a need to understand the dissolution potential of PAEs in the gloves and to assess the skin exposure of PAEs.