Insoluble nanoporous cyclodextrin (CD) polymers were synthesized using bifunctional isocyanate linkers. The ability of these polymers to remove selected organic pollutants from water at varying concentrations was studied. The investigated pollutants were selected high-priority chlorinated disinfection by-products (DBPs) and a common odour-causing compound in water, 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB). The unpleasant musty odour imparted by 2-MIB and geosmin in water can be detected by the human nose even at ng L-1 (parts per trillion) levels. Pre-concentration and extraction of water samples containing low levels of pollutants was performed using solid phase extraction (SPE) and subsequently quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Here we show that the CD polymers demonstrate excellent absorption efficiency (>99%) with respect to the organic pollutants, considerably better than granular activated carbon (GAC). The recyclability efficiency of these CD polymers is also reported. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.