A polymeric sorbent with high selectivity and capacity for phenols in aqueous stream was synthesized based on 5-amino-2-methoxyphenol functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate), P(GMA-TRIM)-AMP. In addition to sorption, the materials were studied using solid-stated NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Well-defined internal micrometer-sized spheres of P(GMA-TRIM)-AMP have stable macropore inner structures surrounded by a thin outer shell. The sorbent has functional groups that are similar in chemical structure to 4-propyl-2-methoxyphenol, PMP, and show high selectivity in removal of PMP from glucose- and xylose-containing monosaccharides solutions in bioethanol production without the loss of the saccharides. The sorbent could also be used to separate phenol and 4-chlorophenol from waste water that contained concentrations of phenols in the ppm range. The sorbent is easily regenerated, has good durability and reusability. It was regenerated and reused at least 10 times without loss in sorption behavior. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.