Abstract: An oil sorbent material particularly for removing an oil slick from water is hydrophobic, in the form of a free-flowing dry powder, and preferentially absorbs oil from the slick, forming buoyant clumps which are easily skimmed or screened from water. Absorbed oil can be recovered from the clumps of sorbent material by several methods including solvent extraction, and heating to liquefy or vaporize the absorbed oil, allowing recovery of a significant fraction of oil spilled on or in water.