Both desorption and displacement kinetic experimental data of gases in activated carbon are presented in this article for ternary systems of ethane, propane and n-butane. Experiments are carried out under various temperatures, particle sizes and shapes. The collected data are compared with the predictions obtained from a multicomponent heterogeneous diffusion model proposed by Hu and Do (AlChE J (1993) 39 1628) using single-component equilibrium and mass transfer parameters.