2-Phenylphenol, or o-phenylphenol, is an organic compound. In terms of structure, it is one of the monohydroxylated isomers of biphenyl.[2][3] It is a white solid. It is a biocide used as a preservative with E number E231 and under the trade names Dowicide, Torsite, Fungal, Preventol, Nipacide and many others.
The primary use of 2-phenylphenol is as an agricultural fungicide. It is generally applied post-harvest. It is a fungicide used for waxing citrus fruits. It is no longer a permitted food additive in the European Union, but is still allowed as a post-harvest treatment in 4 EU countries.[4]
It is also used for disinfection of seed boxes. It is a general surface disinfectant, used in households, hospitals, nursing homes, farms, laundries, barber shops, and food processing plants. It can be used on fibers and other materials. It is used to disinfect hospital and veterinary equipment. Other uses are in rubber industry and as a laboratory reagent. It is also used in the manufacture of other fungicides, dye stuffs, resins and rubber chemicals.
2-Phenylphenol is found in low concentrations in some household products such as spray disinfectants and aerosol or spray underarm deodorants.
^Budavari, Susan (1997). The Merck index an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals (12th, 2nd printing ed.). Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck. p. 7458. ISBN0911910123.
^"Environmental Fate and Exposure Potential". 2-Phenylphenol - Substance Summary. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
^Mehmet Coelhan; Karl-Heinz Bromig; Karl Glas; A. Lynn Roberts (2006). "Determination and Levels of the Biocide ortho-Phenylphenol in Canned Beers from Different Countries". J. Agric. Food Chem. 54 (16): 5731–5735. doi:10.1021/jf060743p. PMID16881670.
