Abstract: A oil-water separation sponge(PVMS-SM) with special wettability behavior was prepared, and the wettability properties such as hydrophobicity, lipophilicity and the selectivity in oil-water mixtures of this material were specifically investigated. Utilizing the super-hydrophobicity and lipophilicity of the material, a new method was established for the detection of trace petroleum-based accelerants in water by the PVMSSM sponge combined with the liquid-liquid extraction. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive, and can be used for the detection of petroleum-based accelerants in practical cases.