The carboxylic acid functionalized poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) porous material was prepared and developed as porous adsorbent for simultaneous removal of copper ions and phenol in aqueous solution. The adsorption capacities of Cu2+ and phenol were 37.5 and 36.2 mg/g in their mixed solution, separately. Compared with their adsorption capacities in individual pure solution, it was found that there was no obvious difference on the adsorption behavior of copper ions in mixed solution. What's exciting result was that the adsorption capacity of phenol in mixed solution was improved dramatically. According to the effect of pH value and the relative content of copper ions on the adsorption capacity, the adsorption mechanism of phenol at the presence of copper ions was investigated. Furthermore, the oxygen and copper elemental before and after adsorption in pure and mixed solution were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in detail. It could be deduced that copper ions in mixed solution were firstly absorbed at the interface of porous monolith and then the ions-enrichment interface layer was benefit for the phenol adsorption. In addition, the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of phenol adsorption were studied, and it was further indicated that the copper ions played important role in improving phenol adsorption capacity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.