An　absorbent　for　benzene　series　with　silica/poly(styrene-co-butyl　acrylate)　core/shell　structure　was　prepared　via　emulsion　polymerization.　The　effects　of　emulsifier　dosage,　monomer　concentration,　and　crosslinker　dosage　on　the　absorption　of　the　core/shell　composite　particles　were　investigated.　The　composite　particles　with　good　absorbency　could　be　obtained　when　the　emulsifier　concentration　was　2.5　g/L,　monomer　concentration　was　40　g/L,　crosslinker　dosage　was　2.0%　(based　on　the　total　mass　of　the　monomer),　and　the　initiator　dosage　was　1.0%.　The　composite　particles　exhibited　a　rapid　absorption　and　the　absorption　process　conformed　to　the　quasi-second　order　kinetics.　Fourier-transform　infrared　spectroscopy,　scanning　electron　microscope,　and　energy　dispersive　spectrometer　(EDS)　showed　the　presence　of　copolymer　layer　on　the　surface　of　silica.　The　work　provided　a　new　path　to　fabricate　novel　composite　absorbent　particles　for　a　wide　range　of　applications.　©　2018　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.　J.　Appl.　Polym.　Sci.　2018,　135,　46172.　©　2018　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.