In this paper, a gas-liquid phase pulsed discharge plasma reactor was used to dispose phenol in aqueous solutions. The effect of pulsed peak voltage and energy, solution conductivity, solution pH, and additive gas varieties on degradation efficiency of phenol was reviewed in the research. The observed results showed that degradation efficiency of phenol increased with the increase of pulsed peak voltage, discharge energy and treatment time. The degradation efficiency of phenol with the oxygen additive was higher than that with the argon additive. The degradation efficiency was higher in the basic solution. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.