A procedure for simulating temperature programmed desorption (TPD) peaks is discussed with the aim of determining the shape of a TPD peak and the temperature range, where it is placed, when starting from the knowledge of the peak area (corresponding to the volume of gas adsorbed), of the values of the kinetic parameters (related to the energetic interactions adsorbate-adsorbent), and of some important experimental parameters. Finally the goodness of the method is checked by simulating a peak at different heating rate and comparing the value of the activation energy, taken as a starting point, with the one that is calculated from the variation of the peak maximum in the temperature scale with the heating rate.