Abstract: A static adsorption experiment was carried out to investigate the adsorption activity of different rock samples ( mudstone, sandy mudstone and sandston e) on volatile phenol which belonged to one of typical underground coal gasification contaminants. The adsorption behaviors of volatile phenol in the rocks were achiev ed, and the distribution coefficients which represented the adsorption ability of rocks were calculated based on the isotherm adsorption model. The results showed that adsorption reached equilibrium in 48 hours. The adsorption ability on volatile phenol from large to small was mudstone, sandy mudstone and sandstone. The adsorption behavior was the best when the pH value was neutral. When the mudstone was high-temperature heated, the adsorption ability would decrease. The adsorption behavio rs of all rock samples for volatile phenols were physical adsorption and accorded with Henry isothermal adsorption. The distribution cofficient of mudstone, sandy mud stone and sandstone were 3.367, 0.446, 0. 053 L/ g respectively, which indicated that the adsorption ability of mudstone to volatile phenol was the strongest.