Thin adsorption media are being investigated for use in a variety of applications including protective clothing for military use and hazardous waste cleanup, as well as in indoor air quality within a variety of filtration media. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of adsorption of a chlorinated organic gas on activated carbon impregnated meltblown laminates. The adsorption data were collected on a bench scale test stand on an existing battle dress overgarment and an experimental activated carbon impregnated liner material for use in protective clothing. Activated carbon loadings were nominally 40, 80, and 120 g/m(2). This paper reviews the results of the study and compares the experimental results to existing adsorption theory. For the organic compound, trichloroethylene, which was studied, a favorable isotherm was found. Although the materials were thin, the media provided a finite breakthrough, defined as a 1% penetration, followed by a gradual breakthrough curve similar to those typically observed in thicker bed adsorption systems. Adsorption isotherms were developed for the activated carbon loaded laminates; the isotherms were of the Freundlich type. A conventional thick bed adsorption model was used to simulate and compare to the results obtained on the activated carbon loaded laminates. Unlike conventional activated carbon beds where the width of the breakthrough curve is a relatively small portion of the bed depth, the breakthrough curves for these thin laminates comprised a significant portion of the bed depth resulting in breakthrough capacities which were substantially less than the overall absorption capacity of the laminates.