Phenanthrene was solubiliaed in two different nonionic surfactants, Tween80 and Triton X-100, The bioavailability of phenanthrene to the bactcria isolated from the petrolcum contaminated soils was studied based on the rotary flasks experiments. The results showed that the concentraton of nonjonic sufactaots above the cntical micele concentraion (CMC) ran increase the solubility of phenanthree in water and were innoxious to the phenanthrene-degrading bacteria; phenanthree solubiliacd in the micelles of Tween 80 was bioavailahle and biodegradahle. The rescarch demonstruted the potential of sufactant-cnhanced bioremediation of soils contaminated by hydrophobic organic compounds(HOCs).