Method for purifying dioctyl phthalate

Disclosed is a method of reducing the ultraviolet-light absorbing properties of a composition comprising dioctyl phthalate, the method comprising (a) obtaining a composition comprising dioctyl phthalate and phthalide, wherein said composition has an absorbance of greater than 0.1 at a wavelength of about from 230 to 360 nm, (b) contacting the composition with activated carbon, silica gel, or diatomaceous earth, for a sufficient amount of time to allow the phthalide to contact the activated carbon, silica gel, or diatomaceous earth, and (c) removing the composition from the activated carbon, silica gel, or diatomaceous earth, wherein the composition obtained from step (c) has an absorbance equal to or less than about 0.1 at a wavelength of about from 230 to 360 nm and has a reduced amount of phthalide when compared with the composition from step (a).