The kinetic parameters of the selective isothermal adsorption of ethanol from an aqueous solution onto a hydrophobic zeolite type NaZSM-5 were determined using a series of the so-called standard methods (the initial rate, the saturation rate and the maximum rate methods). The kinetic model of ethanol adsorption was determined by the "model fitting" method. The dependence of the kinetic parameters on the degree of adsorption and the presence of a compensation effect were determined by the isoconversional method. The complex changes of the activation energy and pre-exponential factor with the degree of adsorption were explained by the model of the activation energy distribution of elemental adsorption processes.