In present work, the batch kinetic adsorption of ethanol on a commercial activated carbon was experimentally investigated and mathematically modeled in order to estimate effective diffusion and average film mass transfer coefficients. The effects of adsorbent loading, ethanol initial concentration and adsorbent particle size were studied. Two kinetic models were fitted to the experimental data. The results showed that the adsorption of ethanol on activated carbon is controlled by pore diffusion resistances. In addition, results showed that with increasing the initial concentration of ethanol in the bulk phase, the effective diffusion mass transfer slightly increased. Increasing the particle size and adsorbent loading slightly decreased the effective diffusion mass transfer. The average film mass transfer coefficient was increased by increasing initial ethanol concentration and decreased by increasing particle size and adsorbent loading. The estimated effective diffusion mass transfer coefficient was in the range of 2.47-3.17 × 10−10 m2/s and average film mass transfer coefficient was in the range of 2.11-2.44 × 10−6 1/s for different experimental conditions.