The thermodynamic equations for the calculation of binary and ternary immersion data in excess formalism are presented. Immersion enthalpies and entropies of the n-hexane/n-octane, n-octane/n-tetradecane and n-hexane/n-tetradecane binary mixtures as well as the n-hexane/n-octane/n-tetradecane tertiary mixture on activated carbon are calculated from the temperature dependence of adsorption isotherms. In order to evaluate the quality of the calculations. the calculated immersion enthalpies of the binary mixtures on activated carbon are compared with those that were measured calorimetrically. It is shown that phenomenological thermodynamics can be used successfully to predict calorimetric data on the basis of adsorption excess isotherms. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.