Cost-effective adsorbents for volatile organic compounds elimination were synthesized at room temperature. New kinds of external cross-linkers were developed and used in the one-step Friedel–Crafts reaction. The synthesized polymers exhibit a high surface area (BET surface area up to 1345 m2 g−1), large pore volume, superhydrophobic nature and excellent adsorption capacity for benzene, which is one of the highest to date among the reported adsorbents. It also possesses super preferential selectivity towards benzene in a high humid gas stream. Therefore, this kind of material is a promising adsorbent for air purification and environmental protection.
