A　new　kind　of　molecularly　imprinted　adsorbent　for　naphthalene　was　prepared　by　a　covalent/noncovalent　hybrid　strategy.　The　monomer-template　compound　was　prepared　by　the　reaction　of　3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl　isocyanate　with　β-naphthol　to　form　a　thermally　cleavable　urethane　bond.　The　silica　gel　was　prepared　by　means　of　the　gelation　of　monomer-template　compound　with　tetraethoxysilane　in　ethanol　using　sol-gel　technology.　The　removal　of　the　template　by　the　cleavage　of　urethane　bond　at　elevated　temperature　resulted　in　the　generation　of　recognition　sites　which　could　rebind　naphthalene　through　noncovalent　interaction.　Binding　experiments　demonstrated　that　the　imprinted　silica　particles　showed　a　very　fast　uptake　profile　for　naphthalene　and　displayed　highly　selective　recognizing　ability　for　naphthalene　over　benzene　and　other　PAHs　such　as　anthracene,　phenanthrene,　pyrene,　fluoranthene　and　triphenylene.　©　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.