The adsorption behaviour of the n-octane/ethanol binary liquid mixture has been studied on ordered mesoporous silica materials. Adsorption excesses on SBA-15, SBA-16 and MCM-48 solids are measured and described by mathematical functions. The experimental adsorption excess isotherms are presented and discussed. The mesoporous silicas used for liquid-adsorption experiments are characterized by nitrogen adsorption before and after liquid adsorption by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by the sample controlled thermal analysis (SCTA). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.