The time-dependence of the establishment of adsorption equilibrium of liquid mixtures of ethanol/n-octane on five Ambersorb adsorbents differing in their nitrogen adsorption isotherms was measured by using refractometry and gas chromatography. Uptake experiments and PFG NMR investigations were carried out to verify the final state of equilibration between the liquid alcohol/n-alkane mixture and the Ambersorb materials. The different factors influencing the adsorption isotherms and the establishment of equilibrium are discussed and used for modelling the observed adsorption patterns.