The sorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on activated carbon was measured. Equilibrium isotherms at 298 K were obtained for n-hexane, cyclohexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, cyclohexane, 1-hexene, acetone, 2-butanone, and 2-pentanone. The effect of temperature on n-hexane sorption was studied by varying the temperature from (288 to 318) K. Data in this study were collected using a gravimetric apparatus. Some data were replicated with a volumetric apparatus for comparison using an error analysis. For the gravimetric data, it was found that the Langmuir equation (mean deviation 0.020 to 0.025) and the Freundlich equation (mean deviation 0.005 to 0.010) gave good fits of the sorption. Nonpolar or weakly polar sorbates, the sorbates with small steric profiles, or low molecular weight sorbates were more readily adsorbed on the microporous activated carbon. Polar sorbates were more readily adsorbed at high pressure, and low temperature improved the adsorption.

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