Efficient removal of phenol and its derivatives from wastewater is of significant environmental concern. In the present study, the adsorption behaviors of three polymeric adsorbents with amide groups, PMVBA, PMVBC, and PMVBU, for phenol were investigated in aqueous solution. The adsorption in relation to the solution pH value was discussed and the neutral pH was optimum. The adsorption dynamic cure was determined and it was shown that the pseudo-second-order rate equation characterized the adsorption better and the intraparticle diffusion was the rate-limiting step. The adsorption isotherms were measured and correlated to Freundlich isotherms, and it was shown that PMVBU held the largest adsorption capacity. The adsorption thermodynamic parameters were calculated and it was seen that the adsorption enthalpy of phenol onto the three adsorbents follows the order PMVBU > PMVBA > PMVBC. Analysis of the adsorption mechanism suggested that hydrogen bonding played a predominant role and multiple hydrogen bonding was involved for phenol and PMVBU. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.