Oil absorbents were prepared by suspension polymerization of methacrylates that were prepared by esterification of methacrylic acid and alcohol in benzene. The properties of absorbents were influenced by reaction parameters, i.e., concentration of crosslinking agents and substituted alkyl groups. The concentration of crosslinking agent providing maxium absorptive power was 0.1%(w/w). As the length of alkyl chain of acrylates increases, acrylates become more absorptive. They tend to absorb more aromatic oils than alphatic ones except chloroform.