SBA-16 silica samples with cubic I m(3) over bar m symmetry were synthesized according to methods reported in literature and characterized by nitrogen adsorption and X-ray diffraction. The adsorption behavior of the n-octane(1)/octanol (2), n-octane(1)/ethanol (3), and octanol(2)/ethanol(3) binary liquid mixtures on SBA-16 was studied over the whole concentration range at 25 degrees C. Inverted U-shape isotherms were found and described by mathematical functions. The experimental binary data were verified by using a consistency test for the specific free wetting energies on the liquid/solid interface. The ternary adsorption excess isotherms of n-octane(1)/octanol (2)/ethanol(3) at 25 degrees C were predicted from the binary data. The work presents the first complete and consistent tabular set of binary liquid adsorption data for creating ternary data on ordered mesoporous silica. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.