The catalytic oxidation of phenol in aqueous-phase has been investigated using a commercial catalyst CuO-2(CuO). Cr2O3-CrO4Ba-Al2O3 at 400 K and an oxygen pressure of 8 atm, changing the pH and catalyst concentration. The phenol conversion, TOC consumption, the intermediates and the pH variation with time have been determined. An irreversible bonding of phenol on the catalyst surface has been found as a previous step to the phenol oxidation reaction. An overall pseudo-first order kinetic constant has been calculated for phenol conversion and values obtained at basic pH are lower than those calculated for acid pH media. An important homogeneous contribution for the phenol oxidation rate was found. However, the intermediates mineralization is notably influenced by the catalyst load.