Fact Sheet #100 Pollution Prevention Opportunities: Phenol

State of Ohio Environmental Protection AgencyPollution Prevention Opportunities for PBT ChemicalsPhenolSeptember 2002Number 100A number of effects from breathing phenolhave been reported in humans. Short-termeffects include respiratory irritation, headachesand burning eyes. Chronic effects of highexposures include weakness, muscle pain,anorexia, weight loss and fatigue. Effects ofchronic low-level exposures include increasesin respiratory cancer, heart disease and effectson the immune system.Repeated exposure to low levels of phenol indrinking water has been associated with diarrheaand mouth sores in humans. Ingestion ofvery high concentrations of phenol has resultedin death.People who had skin exposure to phenol experiencedliver damage, diarrhea, dark urine andred blood cell destruction. Skin exposure to arelatively small amount of concentrated phenolhas resulted in the death of humans. It is notknown if phenol alone causes cancer in humans.Where are Opportunities forPollution Prevention?Phenol exists naturally and is manufactured inlarge quantity. It is found in nature in somefoods, in human and animal wastes, and indecomposing organic material. Phenol isproduced by the body and excreted independentof external exposure or intake.Phenol is used primarily as an intermediate inthe production of phenolic resins. It is used inthe manufacture of nylon, polycarbonate andepoxy resins. Phenol also is used in slimicides(chemicals that kill bacteria and fungi inslimes), as a disinfectant, as an antiseptic and inmedicinal preparations, such as mouthwash andsore throat lozenges.What is Pollution Prevention?Pollution prevention means using sourcereduction techniques in managing wasteproblems and, as a second preference,environmentally sound recycling. The benefitsof practicing pollution prevention includereduced operating costs, improved workerOffice of Pollution Prevention, Ohio Environmental Protection AgencyP.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio, 43216-1049, (614) 644-3469, www.epa.state.oh.us/opp

Pollution Prevention Opportunities for Phenol UseThe first problem was heat exchanger fouling.This causes the inability to flush the requiredamount of water from the column’s bottomsystem, which leads to the column being overloadedresulting in high phenol loss. To addressthis problem, a spare exchanger designedto better withstand the fouling tendencies of thesystem was installed. This spare exchangerwill permit switching the exchanger if the uniton-line does foul.The second problem area was the periodicplugging or failure of the column’s overheadaccumulator. The column recovers phenolthrough this overhead accumulator. When itplugs or fails, there is no means of capturingthe phenol in the feed to the column. Duringthese situations the phenol is forced out of thesystem via the column’s bottoms water stream.To deal with this problem, a second accumulatorwas installed. The second accumulator canbe operated in series or independently of theoriginal accumulator.Contact OPPFor more information and assistance onpollution prevention, contact Ohio EPA’sOffice of Pollution Prevention (OPP) at (614)644-3469 or visit OPP’s Web site atwww.epa.state.oh.us/opp.Ohio’s Materials Exchange (OMEx) atwww.epa.state.oh.us/opp/omex, lists“materials wanted,” including metal wastes,metal-bearing sludges and filter cakes. Usersmay also post their “materials available” on thelisting. The exchange proves valuable in thereuse of materials and preventing them frombecoming a waste.In summary, the company used a successfulsystematic approach to address phenol wasteproblems by doing a step-by-step analysis ofprocess waste stream and the conditions whichaffect its quantity. This was a successfulapplication of pollution prevention in an industrialsetting.www.epa.state.oh.us/oppThe Office of Pollution Prevention was created to encourage multi-media pollution prevention activities inOhio to reduce risk to public health, safety, welfare and the environment. Pollution prevention stressessource reduction and, as a second choice, environmentally-sound recycling, while avoiding cross mediatransfers. The office develops information related to pollution prevention, increases awareness of pollutionprevention opportunities, and can offer technical assistance to business, government and the public.Printed on recycled and recyclable paperwith soy-based inks4Ohio EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.