Phenols:

Phenol compounds in surface water are mainly found due to pollution from industries. Effluents from petrochemicals, is one of the main sources of phenols. Natural phenols are found in water from decaying algae. Phenols are also found in ground water in the area with oil bearing strata. Presence of phenols makes water objectionable in taste and odour. Phenols are removed by superchlorinating process, in which excess chlorine chemically decomposes the phenol. Oxidation with ozone or by absorption on activated carbon help in removal of phenols.