Composites from furfuryl alcohol and silica gel were prepared in dichloromethane using trifluoroacetic acid as catalyst and characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The polymer content in the composites ranged between 19.5% and 32.9%. The capability to adsorb polychlorinated biphenyls and pyrethroid insecticides was tested for composite samples containing different percentages of polymer. Pyrethroids are retained almost totally by composites containing around 24-33% of polymer, while recovery of PCBs close to 80% is obtained with all the composites. No selectivity between compounds of the same family was observed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.