The determination of total phenols was accomplished by capillary-high performance liquid chromatography (capillary-HPLC) after nitrosation of the U.S.E.P.A. classified 11 priority pollutant phenols, using the nitrosated parent phenol (POHNO) as a reference for calibration. The optimum mobile phase composition for this analysis was found by examining the effect of changing the percentage of acetonitrile (MeCN) in the mobile phase on retention factors (k values) and peak intensities. As MeCN percentage was increased, k values were reduced and peak intensities were generally increased. From the results obtained, it was found that the optimum mobile phase was 90%(v/v) MeCN solution at pH 8.0, the detection wavelength of 400 nm, and a detection limit (D.L., concentration at signal to noise ratio (S/N) of 3.0) of 4.5 ${ imes}$ $10^{-7}$ M. In addition, 10 of the 11 phenols present in mineral or waste water were separated after the nitrosation by capillary-HPLC. The optimum mobile phase for separation was a 40%(v/v) MeCN solution at pH 5.0.