The effect of phenol upon concrete

Abstract

Synopsis Phenols are common contaminants of sites used for coal carbonization (e.g. for town gas manufacture, coking plants and tar works). Phenol itself (C6H5OH is reported to be detrimental to concrete, but no quantitative data are available. The paper describes the results up to two years of a series of tests carried out on 100 mm cubes immersed in phenol solutions of varying concentrations. It is concluded that concentrations of phenol as low as 0·2% by volume have an adverse efect upon the developmen of the compressive strength of concrete and that concentrations as low as 0·1 % may be detrimental. Concentrations of phenols of this order may sometimes be encountered onsites used for coal carbonization.