Novel polyvinylbutyral‐silica composite was synthesized via sol‐gel route under microwave conditions for removal of mercury metal from its synthetic aqueous solution. Tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) was used as silica precursor for in situ synthesis of silica onto polyvinylbutyral (PVB) which acted as template as well as capping agent. The synthesized composites were further treated thermally at various stages of elevated temperature in presence of air in a muffle furnace. The synthetic parameters optimized for better mercury removal ability and further characterized using X‐rays diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analytical methods. The mercury adsorption was studied at various adsorption parameters such as pH, dose, contact time, temperature, mercury concentration etc., to achieve the maximum mercury adsorption. The equilibrium was achieved at 24 h with approximately 95% mercury removal at pH value 8 and 40 °C temperature. The adsorption isotherm as well as adsorption kinetic studies also performed to understand the pattern of adsorption.