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Phenol is considered a severe pollutant that is produced as a by-product in many chemical industries, eg, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, dye and paints manufacturing, rubber and plastic factories, coal tar processing, steel plants, pharmaceuticals, leather, and pesticides.(Dabrowski et al., 2005). The phenol content in industrial wastewaters is shown in Table 13.1. Besides industrial effluents, phenol is introduced into surface water from domestic wastewaters and agricultural run-off. Phenol is soluble in water, and its solubility is 98 gm/L. It is colorless but becomes pink in the air due to easy oxidation. It melts at 181oC and forms a toxic liquid. It is also called carbolic acid with weak acidity. Its half-life ranges from 2 to 72 days.

Phenol’s toxicity limits its acceptance in the environment. Its exposure occurs quickly through the nasal, skin, oral, and eye through many consumer products. The health hazards from phenol …