CHAPTER III
 LITERATURE REVIEW



 This chapter presents a review of the pertinent

literature about the characteristics and the environmental

significance of selected phenolic compounds and their

sorption and degradation processes known to occur.


3.1 Environmental Significance of the Phenolic Compounds


 Phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), and pentachloro-

phenol (PCP) are chosen as the contaminants in this study

because phenolic compounds are commonly found contaminants

in groundwater. This is especially true in Florida and the

southeastern United States because of the high density of

wood-preserving industries in this area of the country.

Among the phenolic compounds, phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and

pentachlorophenol have the most commercial importance

(Goldfarb et al., 1981).

 Phenol was first isolated from coal tar in 1834, (Moore

and Ramamoorthy, 1984), but today almost all phenols are

manufactured by the cumene hydroperoxide process (Kirk and

Othmer, 1985). It has been used in many commercial products

including resins, nylons, plasticizers, antioxidants, oil

additives, polyurethanes, drugs, pesticides, explosives,