A　series　of　SBA-15　with　different　modifications　have　been　successfully　prepared　and　applied　as　adsorbents　to　remove　polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons　(PAHs)　from　aqueous　solutions.　The　morphology　and　structural　properties　of　the　chemically　modified　materials　are　all　similar　to　those　of　pure　SBA-15,　and　thus　the　difference　of　PAHs　adsorption　capacity　can　be　directly　attributed　to　the　different　functional　groups,　which　is　favorable　to　deeply　explore　the　adsorption　mechanism.　Adsorption　kinetics　and　isotherm　experiments　for　naphthalene　(Nap),　anthracene　(Ant),　and　pyrene　(Pyr)　were　carried　out,　and　the　results　reveal　that　the　adsorption　processes　follow　a　pseudo-second-order　rate　equation　and　the　equilibrium　can　be　achieved　within　120　min　for　Nap　and　Ant,　whereas　only　90　min　for　Pyr,　indicating　that　the　more　hydrophobic　molecules,　the　easier　and　faster　adsorption　can　be　obtained.　All　of　the　adsorption　isotherms　fit　well　with　the　Freundlich　model,　suggesting　the　unevenly　distributed　active　sites　on　adsorbents.　The　phenyl-functionalized　materials　possess　the　highest　adsorption　capacity,　implying　that　the　π-π　interaction　is　the　most　primary　interaction　and　plays　the　predominant　role　in　the　studied　PAHs　adsorption,　superior　to　the　acidic　and　hydrophobic　interaction.　Our　research　sheds　light　on　the　design　and　synthesis　of　advanced　and　highly　efficient　adsorbents　to　remove　PAHs　from　aqueous　solutions.　©　2018　American　Chemical　Society.