[en] The products in γ-rays irradiation-induced degradation of phenol in aqueous solution were isolated and determined by high-speed liquid chromatography (H-LC). Phenol and its degradation products could be isolated under the following two conditions: (I) column: Permaphase ETH (Du Pont), mobile phase: 0.01 M boric acid, flow rate: 0.5 ml/min, column temperature: r.t., detector: UV photometer (254 nm). (II) column: Permaphase ETH, mobile phase: linear gradient from n-hexane/ethanol (95/5) to ethanol at 3%/min, column pressure: 40 kg/cm², column temperature: r.t., detector: UV photometer (254 nm). The degradation products were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and infrared and ultraviolet spectra. Hydroquinone, catechol, p-benzoquinone, o,o'-biphenol, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene, dihydroxymucondialdehyde, maleic acid and carbon dioxide were identified as the degradation products. The degradation of phenol was confirmed to be a first-order reaction. The data suggest that the primary products are degraded further and may form carbon dioxide finally. The rate of the degradation of phenol passed through a maximum near at pH 6 and was accelerated by the addition of copper ion. (auth.)