 2.
How is DBP used?
"PRODUCTION
In 1998 the production
volume of dibutyl phthalate (hereafter
referred to as DBP)
in the EU was estimated at 26,000 tonnes,
of which 8,000 tonnes was thought to be
exported outside the EU. This leads to
a use volume of about 18,000 t/a. There
is no import of DBP from outside the EU.
There is a clear decreasing trend in the
production of DBP: 49,000 t/a (1994) –
37,000 t/a (1997) – 26,000 t/a (1998).
The production (>1,000 tonnes) of DBP
in 1998 was located at three production
sites in the EU.
DBP
is produced by the reaction of phthalic
anhydride with n-butanol in the presence
of concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst.
Excess alcohol is recovered and recycled
and the di-n-butyl phthalate is purified
by vacuum distillation and/or activated
charcoal.
USE
The largest usage of DBP
in general is as a plasticizers
in resins and polymers
such as polyvinyl chloride. Plasticizers
are materials incorporated into a plastic
in order to increase its workability and
distendability. DBP is further used in
printing inks, adhesives, sealants/grouting
agents, nitrocellulose paints, film coatings
and glass fibres. The ubiquity of DBP
in consumer products is demonstrated by
its wide usage in cosmetics: a perfume
solvent and fixative, a suspension agent
for solids in aerosols,
a lubricant for aerosol valves, an antifoamer,
a skin emollient and a plasticizer in
nail polish and fingernail elongators.
Based on 1997 data, on
average around 76% of DBP
is used as a plasticizer in polymers,
14% in adhesives, 7% in printing inks
and the remaining 3% of DBP is used in
miscellaneous other applications."
Source
& © : ECB
 "2003
Risk Assessment Report (RAR 003) on
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Summary of the
Report,
chapter 2: General Information on Exposure
For more information,
see the full ECB Risk Assessment Report:
Chapter
2: General Information on Exposure
|
