This work describes a method for the removal of phenolic compounds with a nitrophenol-imprinted polymer from aqueous solution by newly functional monomer, methacrylamidoantipyrine (MAAP), which has pi-pi, and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Nitrophenol-imprinted polymers were prepared in a bulk, photo-initiated polymerization by the methods of MAAP which has both pi-pi and hydrogen-bonding interactions and methacrylic acid (MAA) which only has hydrogen bonding, imprinting. The adsorption capacity for nitrophenol and other phenolic compounds onto molecularly imprinted adsorbents (MIPs) was found to significantly depend on the use of functional monomers. The maximum adsorptions of phenolic compounds onto imprinted beads were 173 mumol/g for MAAP and 97 mumol/g for MAA-based imprinted polymers. The pH significantly affected the adsorption capacity of MIPs. The selectivities were measured by comparing the relative selectivity coefficient under competetive adsorption conditions. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.