A novel composite sorbent of methanol "LiCl in mesoporous silica gel" has recently been proposed for AC (adsorption cooling). Its testing in a lab-scale adsorption chiller resulted in the specific cooling power of 210-290 W/kg and the cooling COP of 0.32-0.4. Although these values are rather encouraging, a room for their enhancement still exists. The aim of this paper was a dynamic optimization of the composite performance in AC cycles. Dynamics of methanol sorption on loose grains of the LiCl/silica composites was studied by a Large Temperature Jump method under typical conditions of AC cycle. Effects of number of the sorbent layers, salt content, grain size and cycle boundary temperatures were studied. Physicochemical processes in the three-phase system (salt, solution, vapor) were shown to be quite complex and can strongly affect the dynamics of methanol ad-/desorption. Several obstacles which can retard the sorption were analyzed. Appropriate recommendations on improving the cycle dynamics, which concern optimal conversion degree, salt content and relative durations of ad- and desorption phases, were made. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.