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Nonylphenol in Water
By
Jackie Fawcett &
Michael Goldrich
Introduction
In the last 40 years 450 million tons of
Nonylphenol has been produced world wide,
150,000 tons in the U.S. alone. This chemical is
extremely toxic and is bioaccumulative,
accumulating over time in the tissues of living
organisms rather than being evacuated in
wastes. The chemical is mainly found in the
U.S., Canada, and Europe where it has begun
showing up in lakes and rivers.
Sources of Nonylphenol
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Intermediate for Antioxidants for Rubber and Plastics
Phenolic Resins
Rubber Processing Chemicals
Polyvinyl Chloride Plasticizers
Antioxidant in the Manufacture of Polystyrene
Plastic Additives
Surfacants in Detergents
Plastic Centrifuge Tubes
Leached from PVC Tubes
Sewage Sludges
Chemical properties
Molecular Formula
C15H24O
Molecular Weight
220.35 grams/mole
Log Kow
3.81
pKa
10.25
•6% ortho-substituted, 94% para-substituted
•Insoluble in Water
•Soluble in Benzene, Chlorinated Solvents, Aniline, Heptane, Aliphilic
Alcohols, and Ethylene Glycol
•High Viscosity
•Floats on Water
Affects on Animals & Humans
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Estrogen-like compound, activating estrogen receptor
sites in animals and reptiles
Induces cell proliferation and progesterone receptor in
human estrogen-sensitive MCF7 breast tumor cells
Triggers mitotic activity in rat endometrium
Induces sex change in male fish
Influences ATPases and affects the calcium metabolism
Developmental toxicant to daphnids
Accumulates in the liver, gills, skin, gut, kidney, and fat
tissues in trout
Sludge
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High Concentrations in Sewage Compared to Other
Contaminants (two order of magnitude higher than
metals)
Nonylphenol in Stabilized Sewage Sludge Originates from
Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates
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Alkylphenol Polyethoxilates in Stabilized Sludge Further break
down into Alkylphenols, which Accumulate in Digested Sludge
Consistently Found in Aerobically Stabilized Sludge
Wastewater Treatment
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Detection can be Done using UV-vis
Spectrophotometry, Gas Chromotography, and
Mass Spectrophotometry
Photodegradeable, Half-Life of 10 to 15 Hours of
Continuous Clear Sky, Noon Summer Sunlight in
the Surface Layer of the Lake
Activated Carbon Very Effective because of High
Porosity and Large Surface Area
Data
Amount of Nonylphenol Adsorbed
per gram of Activated Carbon
Adsorption Isotherm of Activated
Carbon
0.001
y = 0.0002x + 3E-05
R2 = 0.9724
0.0009
0.0008
0.0007
0.0006
0.0005
0.0004
0.0003
0.0002
0.0001
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Concentration of Nonylphenol (mL)
6
Data
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Adverse effects were observed at:
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10 micrograms/liter for zooplankton
30 micrograms/liter for sediment dwellers
300 micrograms/liter for fish
Half Life in Water is 1.2 days
Persistent in Sediments from 28 to 104
days
Conclusion
Nonylphenol is a dangerous chemical with
the potential to cause numerous
environmental problems. Although there
are means of detection, it is still very
difficult to isolate and get rid of. Its
affects on humans are not the only
concern, but also its affects on wildlife and
this should also motivated its restriction in
means of disposal.