Shell Chemicals

Phenol Product
Inform ation Bulletin
Phenol Product Inform ation Bulletin

Phenol
C
6
H
5
O H
Product
Phenol is a w hite crystalline (at room tem perature), odorous and toxic chem ical com pound, w hich is used w idely as a raw
m aterial in the m anufacture of other chem ical products (see "Applications"). It w as originally isolated from coal tar stream s, but
through technological advances is now alm ost entirely produced synthetically. The dom inant process in use today is the
oxidation of cum ene (a product of benzene and propylene reaction) and the subsequent cleavage of cum ene hydroperoxide to
form phenol and acetone. Shell began m anufacturing phenol by this process in 1958 and w as a pioneer in utilization of the
new technology. Shell's original facility, how ever, w as shut dow n in 1973 and has now been replaced w ith the w orld's largest
integrated (cum ene is m anufactured on the sam e site), single train production facility. The plant utilizes the latest and m ost
technologically advanced design characteristics possible for the efficient use of energy and feedstocks and protection of the
environm ent. In addition the plant has been designed to produce very high quality m aterials.
This bulletin discusses briefly the safety, storage, handling, and shipping inform ation, physical properties, specifications and uses
of phenol.
Table 1
Phenol sales specifications
Freezing point, (dry) 40.8 degrees C m inim um / 105 degrees F
C olor, Pt-C o, as loaded at shipping origin 20 m axim um
W ater, % w , as loaded at shipping origin 0.1 m axim um
Appearance C lear
N on-volatile residue, % w 0.05 m axim um

Phenol shipping inform ation
Shell C hem ical LP w ill ship phenol by all basic bulk m odes; 45,000 lb m inim um tank truck quantities, 23,500 gallon tank cars
and barges. Shell's shipping equipm ent is designed to m aintain product integrity and provide for safe, environm entally
acceptable and efficient transportation. D ue to the physical properties of phenol (solid below 106 degrees F) all equipm ent is
insulated and equipped so that the product can be w arm ed prior to discharge into the custom er's facilities.
Tank trucks
Stainless steel M C 307 tank trucks are utilized to ship phenol. They are insulated and equipped w ith low pressure (5-10 psig)
steam or hot w ater coils to reheat the product in the event the phenol solidifies en route to the custom er. W here custom ers
choose to use their ow n equipm ent to pick up phenol at Shell's designated location(s), the equipm ent is inspected by Shell
personnel for com pliance w ith D .O .T. regulations prior to loading. Q uantities loaded are determ ined by scale w eight. Trucks
are norm ally equipped w ith self-contained unloading equipm ent; how ever, individual custom ers having special requirem ents for
unloading should note this w hen placing orders.
Tank cars
Shell's tank car fleet consists of 23,500 gallon lined tank cars w hich are insulated and equipped w ith low pressure steam
external heating coils. Tank cars are equipped w ith facilities for top unloading only through a tw o inch line extending to the
bottom of the car. A one inch inert gas connection is also included to allow unloading by pum ping and/or pressurization.
The contents of the tank car should be w arm ed via the external heating coils using 5-10 psig low pressure steam until the
contents at the top of the car are approxim ately 125 degrees F. The quantity of each delivery w ill be determ ined on the basis of
a certified scale or w eighm aster's certificate. If a custom er chooses to use their ow n tank cars or if assistance is desired in
establishing safe and effective unloading procedures, the local Shell Sales Representative should be contacted.
M arine
Shell has facilities to load phenol into ocean-going vessels and barges. D ue to the specialized nature of equipm ent required to
handle m arine parcels of phenol, early discussions w ith your Shell Sales Representative are necessary to determ ine the
availability and proper configuration of equipm ent.
Precautions
Shell recom m ends that several precautions be taken to help ensure safe handling of phenol.
! Personnel involved in the handling of phenol should be fam iliar w ith Shell's Product Stew ardship M anual for
phenol.
! W orkers em ptying shipping equipm ent should be equipped w ith proper safety devices as described in the "H andling,
storage, and environm ental" portion of this bulletin.
! In case of accidental contact w ith phenol, the affected area(s) should be im m ediately and thoroughly w ashed
w ith large am ounts of w ater and im m ediate m edical attention obtained.
! The unloading station should be equipped to allow containm ent and collection of phenol should a spill occur. Local
regulations should be follow ed regarding disposal of phenol, or phenol contam inated w ash w ater.
! The shipping container and unloading line should be electrically grounded.
! C heck received quantity and storage availability prior to discharge.


H andling, storage, & environm ental considerations for phenol handling

G eneral Safety
Phenol storage areas should be labeled to identify the product, the hazards, and the appropriate personal protective equipm ent
required to enter the area. The unloading station should be equipped to allow containm ent and collection of phenol should a
spill occur. Local regulations should be follow ed regarding disposal of phenol, or phenol contam inated w ash w ater.
Safety show ers, eye w ash fountains, supplied breathing air, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SC BA) should be readily
available and properly m aintained in the im m ediate area w here phenol is stored. Safety show ers and eye w ash fountains
should have alarm s to alert w orkers of a possible exposure.
Phenol should not be handled w ithout the use of suitable N IO SH and/or O SH A-approved full protective clothing and face
shields. In case of accidental contact w ith phenol, the affected area(s) should be im m ediately and thoroughly w ashed w ith large
am ounts of w ater and im m ediate m edical attention obtained.
All em ployees w ho have the potential for entering phenol storage areas should receive regular training regarding the hazards of
phenol and the proper handling procedures. Phenol should be handled as a com bustible liquid and stored in a cool, dry area,
aw ay from sparks and open flam es. It is incom patible w ith strong oxidizing agents. Suitable extinguishing agents such as C O 2,
dry chem ical, foam or w ater fog should be readily available in the event of a fire.
Storage
All Phenol storage containers should have adequate secondary containm ent (dikes) to contain the product in the event of a
release. Pum ps and other equipm ent in Phenol service should be on a concrete containm ent system to capture drips and prevent
soil contam ination. Storage tanks should be equipped w ith high level and high-high level alarm s to prevent overfills.
Phenol m ay be discolored by contact w ith carbon steel. Therefore, phenol storage tanks and transfer piping are norm ally
constructed of stainless steel or lined carbon steel. A typical lining used is C arbozinc II. G enerally, sm aller fittings w ill be
stainless steel due to the difficulty of lining them . H ot phenol is corrosive to carbon steel.
Phenol storage tanks are insulated and equipped w ith either internal (bayonet type) or external heaters or external heating pads.
The heat m edium used in heaters should be low pressure steam or another low tem perature heat m edium to prevent
discoloration. A tem perature control system should be in place to m aintain the tank contents betw een 115 and 130 degrees F.
Bulk skin tem peratures of heating coils above 150 degrees F can cause discoloration. Tanks can be nitrogen-blanketed to
m inim ize color and keep atm ospheric m oisture out.
Environm ental Issues
For the U S, under EPA C ERC LA and EPC RA regulatory requirem ents, releases to air, land, or w ater w hich exceed the reportable
quantity (RQ ) for Phenol of 1,000 pounds m ust be reported to the N ational Response C enter (1 800 424 8802), the Local
Em ergency Planning C om m ittee (LEPC ), and the State Em ergency Response C om m ission (SERC ). State and local law s m ay
require additional notifications.
Spills
It is extrem ely im portant to prevent all bodily contact w ith spilled m aterial. Personal protective equipm ent recom m endations
described above for safe handling of phenol should be follow ed by cleanup personnel.
For large spills, elim inate ignition sources and:
! If phenol is leaking from storage vessel, shut off the source of the leak if safe to do so.
! If phenol is spilled on the ground, dike and contain to prevent entry in drains.
! If phenol solidifies on the ground, shovel or scoop up and place in appropriate containers for recovery or
disposal.
! If phenol solution is spilled on the ground, rem ove w ith vacuum truck or pum p to storage/salvage vessels.
! If phenol residue rem ains, soak up w ith absorbent such as clay, sand, or other suitable m aterial and place in non-
leaking containers.
! If phenol traces and odors rem ain, flush the spill area w ith w ater and dispose of the flush solution properly.
! For sm all spills, phenol should be taken up w ith an absorbent m aterial and placed in non-leaking containers for
proper disposal.
W aste phenol is a Resource C onservation and Recovery Act (RC RA) hazardous w aste (U 188) in the U S and m ust be disposed
of in accordance w ith federal and local law s governing hazardous w aste.
Table 2
Phenol typical properties
Appearance At am bient tem peratures it is a hygroscopic crystal, w hite w hen pure, pink or red w ith
im purities present. W hen in a m olten state it is a colorless m obile liquid. Phenol darkens
on exposure to light.
O dor Strong, persistent, sw eet odor.
O dor threshold 0.05 ppm to 0.5 ppm
D ensity
25 degrees C 1.071 kg/liter
50 degrees C 1.050 kg/liter
Flash point (TC C ) 79 degrees C (175 degrees F)
Autoignition tem perature 716 degrees C (1321 degrees F)
Boiling point 182 degreesC (359 degrees F)
M elting point 40.9 degrees C (105.6 degrees F)
C oefficient of expansion 0.00085 per degrees C (approxim ate)
Viscosity, cSt
41 degrees C 4.2
50 degrees C 3.4
60 degrees C 2.6
100 degrees C 1.05
M iscibility w ith w ater C rystals are hygroscopic but not very soluble. Liquid is m iscible above 67 degrees C .
Below that tem perature tw o phases exist; 10% phenol in w ater and 35% w ater in
phenol.
Solubility, w ater in phenol 28% w at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F )
Solubility, phenol in w ater 8% w at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F )
C onductivity (picosiem ens/m eter)
approxim ately
35 x 10
5
at 50 degrees C
Explosive lim it in air, low er 1.5% v/v
Vapor density (air=1) 3.24
Vapor pressure (m illibar)
25 degrees C 0.29
50 degrees C 3.5
100 degrees C 54
160 degrees C 530
Vapor pressure (Reid) 100
degrees F (lb)
0.2
Threshold lim it value (TLV/M AC )*
for eight hour day
5 ppm , 19 m g/cubic m eter (AC G IH 1975)
Alternative nam es for phenol M onohydroxybenzene, hydroxybenzene, benzenol, carbolic acid, phenylic acid
* The TLV is valid only if appropriate m easures are taken to prevent absorption through the skin and m ucous m em branes.

Applications

Phenol is a reactive organic chem ical w hich is used in a w ide variety of chem ical products vital to the econom y of the w orld. It
is reacted in various w ays w ith aldehydes, e.g., form aldehyde, to form w hat are com m only know n as "phenolic resins",
m aterials w hich are strong, w ater resistant and have good dielectric properties. They, in turn, are w idely used as adhesives
(plyw ood binders, brake linings, counter tops, insulation), structural shapes (autom otive parts, electrical fixtures) and electrical
lam inates (circuit boards). O ther uses for phenol include the m anufacture of caprolactam (an interm ediate in the m anufacture of
nylon), bisphenol-A (an interm ediate in the m anufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonate engineering therm oplastics),
herbicides, w ood preservatives, hydraulic fluids, heavy duty surfactants, lube oil additives and extraction aids, pharm aceuticals,
disinfectant m aterials, tank linings and coating m aterials, and as interm ediates for plasticizers and other specialty chem icals.

SC :238-03
(Supersedes SC :238-95)
















Shell Chemicals
Shell Chemical LP
PO Box 4407
Houston
Texas 77210
USA
Tel +1 866 897 4355
Internet http:/ / www.shell.com/ chemicals

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