In this paper a new type of phenol extractant, N-octanoylpyrrolidine (OPOD), was synthesized. The behavior of phenol of wastewater extraction by N-octanoylpyrrolidine (OPOD) in kerosene was studied and the dependence of the extraction distribution ratios on the concentrations of extractant, phenol, acidity and temperature was investigated. The experimental results proved that OPOD could extract phenol effectively. The mechanism of the extraction of phenol by OPOD was studied in detail. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.