Wet oxidations catalyzed by MnO2, Co2O3, and CuSO4.5H(2)O, were carried out for waters containing 1000 mg/L phenol and 1500 mg/L p-chlorophenol, respectively. CuSO4 . 5H(2)O was demonstrated to be the most effective in reducing the concentration of phenols in waters. Rate constant and activation energy of the oxidation were also obtained, the enhancement of catalysts on the oxidation rate of phenol was found to be in increasing order of MnO2, Co2O3, and CuSO4 . 5H(2)O. The cocurrent analyses of total organic carbon and high pressure liquid chromatography illustrated that the end products after oxidations, being intermediates within 10% extent in the liquid phase.