Phenolic compounds in surface water

The presence of phenols in a stream is undesired because of their strong action, their toxicity to fish and unpleasant tastes and odours produced when water containing phenols is chlorinated. The phenolic compounds in the water environment may have a natural, industrial, domestic or agricultural origin. The purpose of this paper is to determine the nature, origin and trend of phenolic compounds in the river Po whose water is utilized to produce drinking water, during a 3 year period (1994–1996) at 15 day intervals. The Directive EEC 75/440 and the Italian DPR 515/82 impose a maximum admissable concentration for “total phenols” by determination with 4-aminoantipyrine. This method gives problems on the nature and detection of each compound. Therefore in this study GC–MS system was used in total ion and in selected ion monitoring after SPE extraction, for determination of some chloro-, nitro- and alkyl-phenols. The obtained results show a considerable presence in the Spring–Summer period of alkylphenols utilized mainly as antioxidants and surfactants, deriving from industrial and domestic wastes.