4-tert-octylphenol
Alkylphenol with a C8-Alkyl-chain
Octylphenol is used in the production of phenolic resins and lacquers which are, e.g., applied in the process of vulcanisation of tires. The major part, however, is needed for the production of octylphenol ethoxylates which are used as surfactants. Moreover, octylphenol is found as impurity in the quantitatively more important nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates.
In the environment, octylphenol ethoxylate is successively degraded to octyphenol.
Degradation of octylphenol is rather slow. It is toxic to fish and has a high potential for bioaccumulation. Furthermore, octylphenol is an endocrine disruptor with estrogenic activity.
Of all octyphenol ethoxylates, the 4-octylphenol-compounds are commercially most important. Accordingly, their degradation products – e.g., the branched 4-tert octylphenol and the linear 4-n-octylphenol - are the dominant octylphenols found in the environment.
Search data
Specimen
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Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution
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Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
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One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea
Sampling area
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Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany.
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Main water divide between the North- and Baltic Sea
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Longest river in Germany
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National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world.
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National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats.
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Fourth largest river basin in Central Europe
Sampling period
1985 - 2001