Molecularly imprinted Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) core-shell magnetic composites (Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)-MIP) were successfully prepared via anchoring p-nitrophenol (p-NP) imprinted functional polymers on the surface of amino-modified Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2) core-shell particles. Synthesized magnetic Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)-MIP composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic property measurement. The preferential catalytic ozonation of p-nitrophenol was evaluated in comparison with the competitive reaction in the presence of coexistent phenol. The results showed that the prepared Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)-MIP composites exhibit strong adsorption ability due to the strong bonding between p-NP and the molecularly imprinted layer. The Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)-MIP demonstrated a preferential catalytic ozonation of p-NP by the recognition ability of the molecularly imprinted layer to the target p-NP. The enhanced catalytic activity using Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)-MIP composites could be attributed to the excellent recognition absorption of the MIP layer on the surface of Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)-MIP to p-NP.