In this paper, adsorption isotherms and kinetics of ethanol onto highly porous activated carbon powders have been investigated. Adsorbents used in the present study are (i) parent Maxsorb III, (ii) KOH-H-2 treated Maxsorb III, and (iii) H-2 treated Maxsorb Ill. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics of the assorted pairs have been measured using magnetic suspension adsorption measurement unit (MSB-VG-S2). Experiments have been conducted across assorted adsorption temperatures that are useful for the operation of adsorption chillers. The Dubinin-Astakhov equation is used to fit adsorption isotherms of parent Maxsorb III/ethanol and KOH-H-2 treated Maxsorb III pairs whilst the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model is found to be more suitable for fitting of adsorption uptake of H-2-treated Maxsorb III/ethanol pair. Adsorption kinetics of assorted pairs are presented by the Fickian diffusion model. Experimental results show that, among the assorted pairs, H-2 treated Maxsorb III/ethanol pair possesses the highest adsorption equilibrium uptake. However, the diffusion time constant of KOH-H-2 treated Maxsorb III is found to be higher than that of other two studied pairs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.