The desorption of benzene (C6H6) from the surface of compact amorphous solid water (ASW) during irradiation with electrons in the range 100-350 eV has been investigated. Two desorption components, with particularly large cross-sections, were present in the observed desorption signal. The fast component, with a cross-section of > 10(-15) cm(2), is attributed to desorption of isolated C6H6 molecules that are pi-hydrogen bonded to small clusters of water (H2O) molecules on the compact ASW surface. The slower component, with a cross-section of ca. 10(-16) cm(2), is attributed to a more complex desorption process involving larger C6H6 islands on the compact ASW surface. Possible desorption mechanisms are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.