Selective adsorbents are prepared by dispersing powdery adsorbents in a composition for forming a crosslinked high molecular weight polymer, then dispersing in fine droplets the dispersion in a vehicle and performing crosslinking reaction to form a crosslinked polymer. The fine powders of adsorbents are enclosed within the crosslinked polymer and dispersed in three-dimensional spaces. Hydroxyl group containing polymeric substance and crosslinking agent or a monomer mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomer and crosslinking monomer is used in said composition. The selective adsorbents can be useful in separation or purification of various organic compounds.