Objectives: The purpose of this study was evaluating the applicability of the circulation dielectric barrier plasma process (DBD) for efficiently treating non-biodegradable wastewater, such as phenol. Methods: The DBD plasma reactor system in this study consisted of a plasma reactor (discharge, ground electrode and quartz dielectric tube, external tube), high voltage source, air supply and reservoir. Effects of the operating parameters on the degradation of phenol and $UV_{254}$ absorbance such as first voltage (60-180 V), oxygen supply rate (0.5-3 l/min), liquid circulation rate (1.5-7 l/min), pH (3.02-11.06) and initial phenol concentration (12.5-100 mg/l) were investigated. Results: Experimental results showed that optimum first voltage, oxygen supply rate, and liquid circulation rate on phenol degradation were 160 V, 1 l/min, and 4.5 l/min, respectively. The removal efficiency of phenol increased with the increase in the initial pH of the phenol solution. To obtain a removal efficiency of phenol and COD of phenol of over 97% (initial phenol concentration, 50.0 mg/l), 15 min and 180 minutes was needed, respectively. Conclusions: It was considered that the absorbance of $UV_{254}$ for phenol degradation can be used as an indirect indicator of change in non-biodegradable organic compounds. Mineralization of the phenol solution may take a relatively longer time than that required for phenol degradation.