A compact sorbent filter for selectively sorbing contaminants and method of removing contamination from an enclosure with a filter is disclosed. Filters of the present invention comprise two or more modular adsorbent units that can be foldably connected and possibly symmetric about one or more axis.In another aspect, the invention provides a laminar support, having at least one edge, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the article is folded along the fold line about the at least one edge of the laminar support such that the first adsorbent assembly is adjacent to the first side of the laminar support and the second adsorbent assembly is adjacent to the second side of the laminar support. In this aspect, the laminar support may be exposed or covered by the adjacent adsorbent assemblies.