WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
29.07 - Phenols; phenol-alcohols. 2907.1 1 2907.12 2907.13 2907.15 2907.19 2907.21 2907.22 2907.23 - Monophenols : - - Phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts - - Cresols and their salts - - Octylphenol, nonylphenol and their isomers; salts thereof - - Naphthols and their salts - - Other - Polyphenols; phenol-alcohols : - - Resorcinol and its salts - - Hydroquinone (quinol) and its salts - - 4,4-Isopropylidenediphenol(bisphenol A, diphenylolpropane) and its salts 2907.29 - - Other Phenols are obtained by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms of the benzene ring by the hydroxyl radical (-OH). Replacement of one hydrogen atom gives monohydric phenols (monophenols); replacement of two or more hydrogen atoms results in polyhydric phenols (polyphenols). This substitution in its turn may affect one or more benzene rings; in the first case mononuclear phenols are obtained, in the second, polynuclear phenols. The hydroxyl grou may also be present as a substitute in benzene homolo es; in the case of toluene, a phenol omologue known as cresol is obtained, in the case o xylene, xylenol is obtained. B ! The heading also covers salts and metal alcoholates of phenols or phenol-alcohols. (A) MONONUCLEAR MONOPHENOLS (1) Phenol (hydroxybenzene) (C6H50H).Obtained by fractional distillation of coal tars or by synthesis. White crystals, with a characteristic odour, which t m reddish when exposed to light, or may be in solution. It is an antiseptic product used in pharmacy. It is also used in the manufacture of explosives, synthetic resins, plastics, plasticisers and dyes. To fall in this heading, hen01 must have a purity of 90 % or more by weight. Phenol of lower purity is exclude (heading 27.07). B (2) Cresols (CH3C6H40H). These phenols derived from toluene are found in varying proportions in coal tar oil. o-Cresol is a white crystalline powder with a characteristic odour of phenol, deliquescent, turning brown with age; rn-cresol is a colourless or yellowish oily liquid, strongly refractive, with an odour of creosote; p-cresol is a colourless crystalline mass which turns reddish and then brownish when exposed to light; it has the odour of phenol. To fall in this heading, sin le or mixed cresols must contain 95 % or more by weight of cresol, all cresol isomers eing taken together. Cresols of lower purity are excluded (heading 27.07). % (3) Octylphenol, nonylphenol and their isomers. (4) Xylenols ((CH3)2C6H30H). These are phenol derivatives of xylene. Six isomers are known; they are obtained from coal tar oils. To fall in this heading, single or mixed xylenols must contain 95 % or more by weight of xylenol, all x lenol isomers being taken together. Xylenols of lower purity are excluded (heading 27. 7). J (5) Thymol 5-methyl-2-isopro ylphenol). Found in thyme oil. Colourless crystals with an odour of yme; used in me cine, in perfknery, etc. (6) Carvacrol (2-methyl-5-isopropylphenol . An isomer of thymol obtained fiom origanum oil; a viscous liquid with a penetrating o our. d (B) POLYNUCLEAR MONOPHENOLS (I) Naphthols (CIa70H).These are the phenols derived from naphthalene. There are two isomers : (a) a-Naphthol. Colourless, shining crystalline needles, grey lumps or white powder, with a disagreeable odour faintly reminiscent of phenol. It is toxic and is used in organic synthesis (dyes, etc.). (b) ,&Naphthol. Brilliant colourless flakes or crystalline powder, white or slightly pink, with a very slight odour of phenol. It has the same uses as a-naphthol, and is also used in medicine and as an antioxidant for rubber, etc. (C) POLYPHENOLS (1) Resorcinol (m-dihydroxybeyene). Dihydric phenol; crystallises in tablets or in needles; colourless but turns brown in contact with air. Slight odour of phenol. Used for the manufacture of synthetic dyes and explosives, and in medicine and photography. (2) Hydroquinone (quinol, p-dihydroxybenzene). Small shining crystalline flakes. Used for preparing organic dyes, m medicine and photography, or as an antioxidant especially for the manufacture of rubber. (3) 4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A, diphenylolpropane). White flakes. (4) Qrocatechol o-dihydroxybenzene). Colourless, shining crystalline needles or tablets, with a slight odour o phenol; used for preparing pharmaceutical and photographic products, etc. $ (5) Hexylresorcinol. (8) Pyro allol. Small scales or in a shining white crystalline powder, li ht and odourless; it readi y turns brown in contact with air and light and is toxic. It is use for preparing dyes, as a mordant, in photography, etc. K % (9) Phloroglucinol. Large colourless crystals, fluorescent in aqueous solution; used as a reagent in chemical analysis, in medlcme, photography, etc. (10) Hydroxyhydroquinone (1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene). Microscopic colourless crystals or powder which darkens on exposure to light. (11) Dihydroxynaphthalenes (CLOHC OH)2). A OUP of ten compounds obtained by replacing two hydrogen atoms in the rin o the napht alene molecule by two hydroxyl groups. Some are used in the manufacture o dyes. ? W (D) PHENOL-ALCOHOLS These are derived from aromatic hydrocarbons by replacing one hydrogen atom on the benzene ring with a henolic hydroxyl group, and another hydrogen atom not on the ring with an alcoholic hy$oxyl group; thus they have the characteristics of both phenols and alcohols. The most important is salicyl alcohol medicine as an analgesic and a febrifuge white crystals, used in
1.- Except where the context otherwise requires, the headings of this Chapter apply only to : (a) Separate chemically defined organic compounds, whether or not containing impurities; (b) Mixtures of two or more isomers of the same organic compound (whether or not containing impurities), except mixtures of acyclic hydrocarbon isomers (other than stereoisomers), whether or not saturated (Chapter 27); (c) The products of headings 29.36 to 29.39 or the sugar ethers, sugar acetals and sugar esters, and their salts, of heading 29.40, or the products of heading 29.41, whether or not chemically defined; (d) The products mentioned in (a), (b) or (c) above dissolved in water; (e) The products mentioned in (a), (b) or (c) above dissolved in other solvents provided that the solution constitutes a normal and necessary method of putting up these products adopted solely for reasons of safety or for transport and that the solvent does not render the product particularly suitable for specific use rather than for general use; (f) The products mentioned in (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above with an added stabiliser (including an anti- caking agent) necessary for their preservation or transport; (g) The products mentioned in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) above with an added anti-dusting agent or a colouring or odoriferous substance or an emetic added to facilitate their identification or for safety reasons, provided that the additions do not render the product particularly suitable for specific use rather than for general use; (h) The following products, diluted to standard strengths, for the production of azo dyes : diazonium salts, couplers used for these salts and diazotisable amines and their salts. 2.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Goods of heading 15.04 or crude glycerol of heading 15.20; (b) Ethyl alcohol (heading 22.07 or 22.08); (c) Methane or propane (heading 27.11); (d) The compounds of carbon mentioned in Note 2 to Chapter 28; (e) Immunological products of heading 30.02; (f) Urea (heading 31.02 or 31.05); (g) Colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin (heading 32.03), synthetic organic colouring matter, synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores (heading 32.04) or dyes or other colouring matter put up in forms or packings for retail sale (heading 32.12); (h) Enzymes (heading 35.07); (ij) Metaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine or similar substances, put up in forms (for example, tablets, sticks or similar forms) for use as fuels, or liquid or liquefied-gas fuels in containers of a kind used for filling or refilling cigarette or similar lighters and of a capacity not exceeding 300 cm3 (heading 36.06); (k) Products put up as charges for fire-extinguishers or put up in fire-extinguishing grenades, of heading 38.13; ink removers put up in packings for retail sale, of heading 38.24; or (l) Optical elements, for example, of ethylenediamine tartrate (heading 90.01). 3.- Goods which could be included in two or more of the headings of this Chapter are to be classified in that one of those headings which occurs last in numerical order. 4.- In headings 29.04 to 29.06, 29.08 to 29.11 and 29.13 to 29.20, any reference to halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives includes a reference to compound derivatives, such as sulphohalogenated, nitrohalogenated, nitrosulphonated or nitrosulphohalogenated derivatives. Nitro or nitroso groups are not to be taken as “nitrogen-functions” for the purposes of heading 29.29. For the purposes of headings 29.11, 29.12, 29.14, 29.18 and 29.22, “oxygen function”, the characteristic organic oxygen-containing group of those respective headings, is restricted to the oxygen-functions referred to in headings 29.05 to 29.20.