Two catalysts of Co oxide loaded on carbon xerogel (CX) were prepared by either in situ Co ion doping (Co/CX-G) or impregnation (Co/CX-I). The samples were characterised by N-2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO)-differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD)-DSC. Their performances in adsorption of phenol and heterogeneous oxidation of phenol using sulphate radical in aqueous solution were investigated. It was found that loading of Co oxide on carbon xerogel reduced the adsorption capacity of phenol. Co/CX samples prepared by the different methods exhibited varying activities in heterogeneous oxidation of phenol by sulphate radical. Kinetic studies demonstrated that Co/CX presented the first-order kinetics and the activation energies were obtained as 62.9 and 48.3 kJ/mol for Co/CX-G and Co/CX-I, respectively. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.