A method based on the linear model of sorption dynamics (LMSD) is applied for the comparison of several solid phase extraction systems used for preconcentration of phenol from water solutions. The method includes the calculation of maximum concentration efficiency for the given values of preconcentration factor and recovery under scope of the model. Original parameters of LMSD were obtained from the experimental data on kinetics of sorption of phenol on different hydrophobic non-polar sorbents including poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (Amberlite XAD-2, PLPRS 100), hypercrosslinked polystyrene (Purosorb MN-200), hexadecylsilica (KSK-G C-16) and others (Amberlite XAD-4, Amberchrom CG-161). The suitability of LMSD for evaluation of dynamic sorption systems is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.