thalpy was quantitatively correlated with the fractional loading for the sorption of phenol onto the three polymeric adsorbents. The surface energetic heterogeneity patterns of the adsorbents were described with functions of isosteric enthalpy. The results showed that the tested three polymeric adsorbents exhibited different surface energetic heterogeneity patterns. The initial isosteric enthalpy of phenol sorption on polymeric adsorbent has to do with the surface chemical composition and is free from the pore structure of the polymeric adsorbent matrix. Forming hydrogen bonds between phenol molecules and adsorbent is the main driving force of phenol sorption onto PVBA and PMMA adsorbent from nonaqueous solution. When phenol is adsorbed on PMMA/PS, π–π interaction resulting from the stacking of the benzene rings of the adsorbed phenol molecules and the pendant benzene ring of adsorbent is involved.