The invention relates to a treating and utilizing process for phenol-containing waste water. The process is characterized by comprising the following steps: (1) performing filtration and performing pretreatment: filtering the phenol-containing waste water to remove suspended solids and oil to obtain a pretreated phenol-containing waste water liquid; (2), adjusting the pH: adding concentrated sulfuric acid into the pretreated phenol-containing waste water to adjust the pH value to be 2-3; (3), performing extraction: adding a complexing agent, a co-solvent and a diluent for extraction; (4), performing adsorption: performing adsorption on the waste water by using activated carbon to recover phenols; and (5) performing back extraction: adding the waste water and an alkaline liquid to a centrifugation extraction machine at the same time, and performing back extraction recycling. The process provided by the invention has the advantages that the process is simplified, the treatment costs arereduced, the recovery efficiency is high, the recovery quality is good, the operation is simple, the centrifugation extraction residence time is short, the amount of a remaining liquid is less, the extraction efficiency is high, the demulsification capacity is strong, devices are conveniently started and stopped, and the range of an applicable material treatment system is wide.