Surface tension for seven binary mixtures containing a pyridinium-based ionic liquid (1-propylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, 1-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, or 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium) and a short chain alkanol (methanol or ethanol) were determined at the temperatures: (293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15) K. From these data, the surface tension deviations were calculated. These deviations were correlated using a Redlich-Kister polynomial expansion. Moreover, relative adsorptions of alkanol at the (air + liquid) interface were calculated from the Gibbs isotherm. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.