In this study, the preliminary feasibility of bio-regeneration of a hyper-cross-linked polymeric resin NDA-802 preloaded with phenol was investigated. As compared to the abiotic experiments, phenol preloaded with NDA-802 could be effectively desorbed and biodegraded, and the bioregenerated NDA-802 could be employed for multiple use. The concentration gradient hypothesis could interpret such bioregeneration process reasonably. A slight drop in adsorption capacity of NDA-802 after bioregeneration possibly resulted from the mesopore blockage by microbial metabolic by-products. In general, bioregeneration could serve as a potential choice for the exhausted hyper-cross-linked polymeric resin in wastewater treatment. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.