Removal of phenol employing ZnO-bentonite nanocomposite as photocatalyst with UV irradiations is evaluated under Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR). XRD patterns of nanocomposites indicated modifications in the lattice structure of bentonite due to intercalation of ZnO nanospheres in the matrix with particles size of 20-30 nm as revealed from TEM. Thin film of composites coated on SS plate surface exhibited similar to 70% removal of phenol from the simulated effluent under at lower flow rate (10 ml min(-1)) and higher pH (12) at a fixed nanocomposite loading. The effluent obtained after CSTR treatment is analyzed by LC-MS which suggested that photocatalytic degradation of phenol results in the formation of adipic acid and 2,4,6-triphenoxy phenol through radical mechanism. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.