Bacillus pumilus strain SCH2JF914985, a newly phenol-degrading bacterium with high biodegradation activity and high tolerance of phenol was isolated from the coal industrial area of Dankuni, West Bengal, India. The present study made an attempt to find out the bio-removal of phenol and phenolic compounds by immobilized cell of Bacillus pumilus strain SCH2JF914985 and to compare the use of recycling packed bed column with batch culture of immobilized cells. Under recycling condition complete removal was achieved for 100 ppm phenol and 20 ppm cresol within 2 days whereas under batch culture only 65% phenol and 80% of cresol could be removed in 2 days. These results indicate that recycling packed bed column of immobilized Bacillus pumilus strain SCH2JF914985 possesses a good application potential in the treatment of phenol/m-cresol containing wastewater. Copyright © EM International.