Octylphenol
Definition of octylphenol:
The term octylphenol represents a large number of isomeric compounds. The octyl group may be branched in a variety of ways or be a straight chain and may be located at either the 2-, 3- or 4-position of the benzene ring. Of these potential isomers, 4-tertoctylphenol is the most commercially important. [1]
This is the common definition for octylphenol, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
The main areas of use of octylphenol are as an intermediate in the production of phenol/formaldehyde resins and in the manufacture of octylphenol ethoxylates. These chemicals are used to in rubber, in pesticides and paints. Octylphenol mainly reaches the marine environment from waste waters from factories where it is used as an intermediate. Another possibility is from the breakdown of alkylphenol ethoxylates. It has also been reported that octylphenol is present as an impurity in nonylphenol and that this may account to some extent for its detection in the environment.
Octylphenol is very toxic to aquatic organisms, is not easily degraded in the environment, has the potential to cause significant endocrine disruption effects, and has been detected in surface waters. 4-tertoctylphenol has also been included in the Water Framework Directive list of priority substances (EU, 2001).
Octylphenol on the ED North Database
