In this work, highly absorbent cross linked co-polymer gels of cis-9-octadecen-1-ol with acrylic/methacrylic acid and 1-hexene in different molar ratios were synthesized by thermal polymerization techniques and studied. The polymers were characterized by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy techniques. Their non-ionic nature was verified with the help of transport number measurement by Wagner polarization technique. The polymers were found to have very high swelling capacities in organic solvents like chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, ethanol, diethylether, thiophene, pyridine, and benzene. These gels show maximum swelling for chloroform which reaches up to 750%. The swelling capacities for different oils like kerosene, gasoline, engine oil, and silicon oil, are also favorable. The swelling kinetics confirmed that the swelling followed second order kinetics. The chloroform retention time was also checked which established that the gels can be recycled and reused again and again. An experiment showing removal of kerosene from kerosene/water mixture is also performed. This confirms that these gels can be used in removing organic contaminants and oil from water and can help in water purification and environmental cleanup purposes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.