A comparative study of a chemically modified polymeric resin which has a benzoyl group and several commercial sorbents, such as PLRP-S, Envi-chrom P and LIChrolut EN, for the solid-phase extraction of various phenolic compounds and pesticides was carried out. Selectivity and breakthrough volumes for these compounds with different sorbents were studied by coupling an on-line solid-phase extraction system with a modified liquid chromatograph equipped with a UV detector. After determining the chromatographic conditions, linearity range and detection limits, the method was applied to the determination of these compounds in drinking and surface water. For 25 ml of sample, the recovery was > 70% for all the compounds, except for 4-nitrophenol (62%), and detection limits were between 0.2 and 0.8 microgram I-1.