Adonitol was investigated by adiabatic calorimetry (AC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravity analysis (TGA) and oxygen-bomb combustion calorimetry. The heat capacity was precisely measured in the temperature range from 78 to 400 K by means of a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. The melting temperature, the molar enthalpy and entropy of this transition were determined to be T=369.08 +/- 0.45 K. 36.42 +/- 0.18 kJ mol(-1) and 98.68 +/- 0.49 JK(-1) mol(-1) respectively from the experimental C-p-T curve. The thermodynamic functions [H-T(0) - H-298.15(0)] and [S-T(0) -S-298.15(0)] were derived from the heat capacity data with an interval of 5 K. The Standard molar enthalpy of combustion and formation of the compound have been determined to be Delta H-c(m)0, (C5H12O5 center dot cr)=(-2562.4+/-1.3)kJ mol(-1) and Delta H-c(m)0 (C5H12O5.cr)=(-1120.1+/-1.5)kJ mol(-1) respectively by means of a precision oxygen-bomb combustion calorimeter at T=298.15 K. The thermostability of the compound was further studied by DSC and TGA measurements. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.