Table 1.

Summary of experiments conducted using samples prepared with m-cresol and p-cresol, with or without salts, and with or without PVP

Sample composition	Aged/equilibrated	Observations	Purpose of observations
m-cresol and p-cresol: 2 wt% SALTS: NaCl, FeCl2, FeSO4, CuCl2, CuSO4, ZnCl2, ZnSO4 (0.1 M and 0.5 M) Samples without salts were analyzed for comparison	Up to 10 days	Visual observations, optical microscopy and ATR-FTIR	Mixing behaviour, buoyancy and cresol-salt complex formation
m-cresol and p-cresol: 2 wt% SALTS: none PVP: 1 wt%	1 h	ATR-FTIR after centrifugation and filtration	Removal of cresols from water
m-cresol and p-cresol: 2 wt% SALTS: 0.5 M of either FeCl2, FeSO4, CuCl2 or CuSO4 PVP: 1 wt%	1 h	ATR-FTIR after centrifugation	Removal of cresols from water