According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, phenols represent a
group of organics frequently found in various industrial effluents and wastewaters [4].
As per Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) amendment rules, 2000,
phenol and phenolic compounds are classified under category of Class B (B.19) of
schedule-II in the hazardous wastes list [5]. Moreover according to the environmental
protection rules of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IS: 2490-1974 the
discharge limit of phenols in inland water is 1 mg/L and in public sewers as per IS:
3306-1974 is 5.0mg/l.[