Method for adsorbing and recovering phenols

A process for adsorbing and recovering phenols from an aqueous solution thereof, which process comprises:

• (a) contacting said solution with a material having as its main component a tertiary-amine-type, anion-exchange resin copolymer of (i) at least one monovinyl pyridine monomer and (ii) at least one vinyl comonomer, said comonomer having a number of ethylenically unsaturated groups, and acting as a crosslinking agent, thereby causing adsorption of phenols onto said material at a high rate, and;
• (b) subsequently eluting said material with an eluting agent from which said phenols can be separated by distillation, thereby substantially recovering said phenols, and regenerating said resin.