Nonylphenol and Its Ethoxylates in Water Environment

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), including Alkylphenols and their ethoxylates, precisely Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates, are organic molecules that are of greatest current concern because of their ability to have a toxic or an inhibitory effect on living organisms by their presence or accumulation in environment such as water, sediments, soils and atmosphere. They are used in the production of surfactants, industrial formulations, pharmaceuticals, personal care products etc... The primary objective of this article is to review the literature concerning classification of Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates based on physical and chemical characteristics and technical feasibility of their usages. It also involved different ways of their introduction into environment, analytical methods (HPLC, GC-MS, GC-MS-TOF) for their environmental detection and quantification, and finally methods for their removal. Technologies proposed for nonylphenol and its ethoxylates degradation includes biodegradation, physical processes, conventional and non-conventional adsorption-oriented processes and photodegradation processes including photocatalytic oxidation which have a potential to reach complete mineralization.