Organic material may be removed from a fluid, such as an aqueous fluid, by contacting the fluid with a surface active porous medium. The surface active porous medium includes a bed of substrate particles (e.g. sand), at least a partial coating of nanoparticles on the substrate bed, and a plurality of absorbing particles fixated on the nanoparticles. The absorbing particles may include, but are not necessarily limited to, coal fines, activated carbon, activated charcoal, activated coal and combinations thereof. The surface active porous medium may be regenerated by contacting the surface active porous medium with an acid solution to substantially remove the organic materials therefrom.