A new model of nonisothermal adsorption is presented. The model is applicable to systems with nonlinear adsorption isotherm. Both intraparticle and film mass-transfer resistances are accounted in the model with the intraparticle mass-transfer rate being controlled by pore diffusion. An analytical solution of the model equations has been developed and a criterium for the existence of a maximum in the temperature uptake curves has been presented. A simple algorithm for the calculation of the maximum particle temperature has been illustrated. A detailed sensitivity analysis has shown the influence of various parameters on the temperature uptake curves. The model has been applied to the system water vapour-alumina and the predicted temperature uptake curves were compared with experimental results. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.