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Chemistry of Contaminants
Published in Daniel T. Rogers, Environmental Compliance Handbook, 2023
Phenol are a group of organic compounds with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom in a benzene ring. Phenol compounds do occur naturally, and their presence in plant foliage discourages herbivores from consuming the plant material (Fetzer 2000; McMurry 2009). The simplest phenol compound is carbolic acid (C6H5OH), also called phenol. Phenol combined with formaldehyde forms a widely used polymer typically referred to as a phenolic resin. Phenolic resins have a wide range of industrial and commercial applications, including (USEPA 2021h):
Solvent Exposure and Toxic Responses
Published in Stephen K. Hall, Joana Chakraborty, Randall J. Ruch, Chemical Exposure and Toxic Responses, 2020
Phenols are aromatic hydrocarbons with one or more hydroxyl groups attached to the benzene ring. The simplest of the compounds is phenol, which contains only one hydroxyl group on a benzene ring. Other examples include cresol (methyl phenol), catechol (1,2-benzenediol), resorcinol (1,3-benzenediol), and hydroquinone (1,4-benzenediol). Phenol is used as a cleaning agent and disinfectant, but its primary use is as a chemical intermediate for resins and pharmaceuticals. Cresol is used primarily as a disinfectant. Catechol is used in photography, fur dying, leather tanning, and as a chemical intermediate. Resorcinol is used as a chemical intermediate for adhesives, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Hydroquinone is used in photography, as a polymerization inhibitor, and as an antioxidant.
Properties and Characteristics of Water and Wastewater
Published in Donald R. Rowe, Isam Mohammed Abdel-Magid, Handbook of Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse, 2020
Donald R. Rowe, Isam Mohammed Abdel-Magid
Phenols are a group of aromatic compounds with one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a benzene ring. Phenols can be recovered from coal tar while greater amounts are manufactured synthetically. Phenols in wastewater may be industrial in origin, such as from coal, gas, or petroleum operations. Phenols cause taste problems in drinking water, particularly when the water is chlorinated. This is due to formation of chlorophenol.
The impact of informal settlements on the surface water quality: a baseline analysis of the Kaalspruit in Tembisa township, South Africa
Published in Urban Water Journal, 2022
MS Morole, KY Yessoufou, SA Bufo, IT Rampedi, LS Modley
Concentrations of phenolic compounds were also notably high in the sampled sediments. This is due to their ability to be readily adsorbed by soil; adsorption reduces the rate of phenol biodegradation in soil (CEQG, 2001). Simple phenol was higher than other phenolic compounds at concentrations of <400 µg/kg for all sites and both seasons. When compared to the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines for sediment (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 2001), phenol concentrations were notably higher, surpassing the threshold effect concentrations set for this compound. Phenol emanates from an array of sources, such as human and animal waste, fertilizers, paints and pharmaceuticals. The use of phenol-containing products by local communities could be contributing to the uniform levels of phenol measured across all sampling sites. Sewage discharges into the river from a lack of sanitation facilities in informal settlements at Tembisa and Ivory Park townships (sites 2 and 3) could also contribute to the concentrations of this compound at these sites. Moreover, industrial activity and agriculture fields near sites 4 and 5 are believed to be the possible sources of phenol concentrations at these sites.
Adsorptive removal of phenol using banyan root activated carbon
Published in Chemical Engineering Communications, 2021
Gnanasundaram Nirmala, Thanapalan Murugesan, K. Rambabu, K. Sathiyanarayanan, Pau Loke Show
Phenol industrial wastewater is one of the most important sources of pollution. During the last century, a huge amount of industrial wastewater was discharged into water bodies that resulted in negative effects on the ecosystem and mankind. Phenol is one such important industrial pollutant known for its toxicity and inflicts severity and long‐lasting effects on humans and animals alike. Exposure to low concentration of phenol can cause damages such as skin denaturation and respiratory system blockage (Chen et al. 2016). Prolonged consumption of phenol contaminated water causes paralysis, tissue degradation and metabolic instability due to protein disintegration in case of humans (Hameed and Rahman 2008). According to environmental protection agency (US), the safe limit of phenol in aqueous streams is <1 mg/L (Banat et al. 2000). Hence, there is a growing concern over the traces of phenolic levels that have been detected in drinking water utilities (Mompelat et al. 2009) and the negative externalities caused by their discharge from various process industries and effluent treatment plants on the environment (Verlicchi et al. 2012). To ensure the safe limits of phenol in the outlet stream of industrial effluents, many technologies have been adopted for phenol removal from industrial wastewater which included membrane separation, advanced oxidation, activated sludge, biological treatments, ion exchange and adsorption (Abbassian et al. 2015).
Phenol removal from wastewater by surface imprinted bacterial cellulose nanofibres
Published in Environmental Technology, 2020
Ali Derazshamshir, Ilgım Göktürk, Emel Tamahkar, Fatma Yılmaz, Necdet Sağlam, Adil Denizli
The presence of phenol in the aquatic environment can lead to reduced water quality and death of aquatic organisms. Phenols are toxic and some are carcinogenic to humans. If the concentration exceeds 5.6 g/m3, the water disrupts the self-purification processes. In contrast, concentrations above 30 g/m3 completely inhibit photosynthesis [1]. Besides, phenols even at a low concentration of 0.001 mg/L create a significant odour and taste problems in drinking water, and they are harmful to organisms [2–5]. People are exposed to phenol because of the direct contact with the phenolic compound used in the production process in the workplace or as a result of inhalation or the use of certain medicinal products. The effects of chronic exposure can lead to weight loss, diarrhoea, dizziness, loss of appetite, black colour in the urine, irritation in the digestive system. It can damage the liver resulting in altered blood pressure, and negative effects on the nervous system [3–6]. Also, according to the studies, animals exposed to oral phenol showed developmental retardation and weight loss [7]. Phenol and its derivatives (chlorophenol, nitrophenol, methylphenol, cresol, etc.) belong to highly toxic contaminants and their occurrence in industrial and municipal sewage and groundwater poses a high threat to the environment and human health. The elimination of such pollutants is one of the biggest challenges in solving global environmental problems [8].