Renewable atom-efficient dendrimer-like acetate: from toxic tung oil to non-toxic plasticizers

Abstract Over the last 60 years, phthalate plasticizer production has increased manifold, owing to their inexpensive, multipurpose, durable, and lightweight nature. These characteristics have raised the demand for phthalate plasticizers that will continue to grow over the coming years. However, with increased phthalate plasticizer production comes increased water pollution and soil pollution, as well as serious harm to human health. The recent studies mainly focused on plasticizing properties, plasticizing mechanism, and raw material sources, but the relationship of chemical structure of the plasticizer and its toxicity has never been reported. In this study, we synthesized three kinds of renewable atom-efficient dendrimer-like plasticizers based on toxic tung oil (DPTs). Plasticizing properties, plasticizing mechanism, and toxicity of DPTs were investigated. The results showed that polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/40 phr DPT has superior plasticizing properties and migration resistance than PVC/40 phr dioctyl phthalate. All DPT plasticizers have toxic doses of 5000 mg/kg and are non-toxic. These DPTs are potential to replace reproductive toxic phthalate plasticizers in food packaging materials, toys, and medical equipment.