Active carbon–ceramic sphere as support of ruthenium catalysts were evaluated through the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of resin effluent in a packed-bed reactor. Active carbon–ceramic sphere and ruthenium catalysts were characterized by N 2 adsorption and chemisorption measurements. BET surface area and total pore volume of active carbon (AC) in the active carbon–ceramic sphere increase with increasing KOH-to-carbon ratio, and AC in the sample KC-120 possesses values as high as 1100m 2 g −1 and 0.69cm 3 g −1 (carbon percentage: 4.73wt.%), especially. Active carbon–ceramic sphere supported ruthenium catalysts were prepared using the RuCl 3 solution impregnation onto these supports, the ruthenium loading was fixed at 1–5wt.% of AC in the support. The catalytic activity varies according to the following order: Ru/KC-120>Ru/KC-80>Ru/KC-60>KC-120>without catalysts. It is found that the 3wt.% Ru/KC-120 catalyst displays highest stability in the CWAO of resin effluent during 30 days. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenol removal were about 92% and 96%, respectively at the reaction temperature of 200°C, oxygen pressure of 1.5MPa, the water flow rate of 0.75Lh −1 and the oxygen flow rate of 13.5Lh −1 .