In this work, core-shell structured magnetic mesoporous carbon nanospheres were fabricated from the carbonization of metal-polyphenol coordination polymer-coated Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The preparation method is simple, fast, versatile, and easy to scale up. Magnetic mesoporous carbon nanospheres exhibit a high specific surface area, high superparamagnetism, and high adsorption efficiencies for phthalates.Four phthalates were extracted from aqueous solutions by using magnetic mesoporous carbon nanospheres via magnetic solid phase extraction. Subsequent analysis was performed by using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The analytical method has good linearity in the concentration range of 1-200 ng/mL for diethyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, and dicyclohexyl phthalate, and 3-200 ng/mL for dipropyl phthalate. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.10-0.62 ng/mL. Compared with previous methods, this method has a lower detection limit, wider linearity range, and faster adsorption and desorption rates. The results indicate that magnetic mesoporous carbon nanospheres are suitable for the enrichment of hydrophobic substances from aqueous solutions. K E Y W O R D S enrichment, hydrophobic substances, magnetic carbon, magnetic solid phase extraction, tannic acid Article Related Abbreviations: DCHP, dicyclohexyl phthalate; DEP, diethyl phthalate; DIBP, diisobutyl phthalate; DPrP, dipropyl phthalate; MagC-TA, magnetic mesoporous carbon nanospheres; MCM, magnetic carbon material; MPCP, metal-polyphenol coordination polymer; MSPE, magnetic solid phase extraction; PAE, phthalate; PDA, polydopamine; TA, tannic acid.facile separation, magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) has attracted much attention [5,6]. In this technique, magnetic adsorbents are directly dispersed into sample solutions, and the dispersive extraction allows sufficient contact between the adsorbents and analytes, leading to improved extraction efficiency. Moreover, MSPE can eliminate typical problems associated with conventional SPE, such as time-consuming column passing operations, high pressure requirements, and packed bed clogging. Magnetic adsorbents can be easily separated from the solutions under the assistance of an external magnetic field without the need for traditional centrifugation or filtration, making the extraction faster and easier. MSPE is suitable for various kinds of samples within a 3512