Sorption of phthalic acid esters (PAEs: diethyl phthalate, DEP: dibutyl phthalate, DBP as model compounds) in landfill leachates by activated carbon (AC), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and biochars, were examined. The young leachate (YL) and old leachate (OL) were synthesized to imitate acetogenic and methanogenic phases, respectively, and glucose (GLU) and fulvic acid (FA) were selected to represent dissolved organic matter (DOM). GLU in leachates generally facilitated the sorption of PAEs while FA restrained sorption of PAEs, suggesting the type of DOM associated with leachates possibly regulated the removal efficiency of PAEs from leachates. The pores and organic carbon of carbonaceous sorbents should be major factors in influencing the sorption of PAEs in leachates. The data showed PAEs in acetogenic leachates was removed more easily than those in methanogenic leachates and CNTs have the less advantage to remove PAEs from methanogenic leachates compared to AC. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.