The kinetics of acrylonitrile polymerization on the surface of porous microspherical silica gel (PMSS) was studied and some kinetic parameters were determined. The structure of PMSS-based sorbents was analyzed by FTIR-spectroscopy, XRD and sorption analysis before and after microcapsulation with polyacrylonitrile. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.