a method and apparatus for removing organic contaminants from an aqueous phase in which the contaminant is solubilized . in the method the aqueous phase is passed through a fluid - pervious filtration media which has been infused with an absorbtion composition comprising a homogeneous thermal reaction product of an oil component selected from the group consisting of glycerides , fatty acids , alkenes , and alkynes , and a methacrylate or acrylate polymer component . the absorbtion composition is cured in situ at the filter . the contaminant is immobilized at the media , and the purified filtrate having passed through the filtration media is collected as the product . the media comprises a central core which is surrounded and wrapped by a plurality of overlying sheets of further fluid pervious media , the overlying sheets creating void spaces between sheets for trapping of at least some of the separated contaminants .