A kind of phenolic hydroxyl group modified hyper-cross-linked polymeric adsorbent HJ-02 Was prepared from macroporous crosslinked chloromethylated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers by Friedel-Crafts post-cross-linked reaction and esterified reaction. Its chemical structure and pore structure were characterized by chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and N-2 adsorption-desorption experiments. It was thereafter applied to adsorb p-aminobenzoic acid in aqueous solution for its potential application in separation and purification. The p-aminobenzoic acid aqueous solution, pH unadjusted, was the optmum for the adsorption and the salinity posed a positive effect. The adsorption dynamic curves obeyed the pseudo-second-order rate equation and the adsorption was controlled by an intraparticle diffusion model. The adsorption enthalpy was calculated to be negative and decreased with the increase of the p-aminobenzoic acid uptake. The surface character of HJ-02 resin was described with function of the adsorption enthalpy by Do's model and the result indicated that it exhibited surface energy heterogeneity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.