Manufacturing of carbonaceous materials based on olive stones biomass for electrochemical applications

Carbonaceous materials have been obtained by pyrolysis of composites based on olive stones biomass, novolac resin as binding agent, with or without an aromatic compound (naphthalene). The pyrolysis residue at 1000 degrees C is 40 w% and its electrical conductivity, sigma, is 0.13 S/cm. Small cylindrical specimens have been manufactured and pyrolyzed at 1000 degrees C in order to be used as electrodes. Platinum was electrodeposited by cyclic voltammetry on these specimens using them as working electrodes or on commercial carbon fibres, respectively, for correlating purposes. The morphology of both carbon materials, used as electrodes, was characterized by SEM images and the presence of Pt was determined based on EDS analysis. The crystallographic planes of Pt- carbon of Pt deposited on carbon materials were characterized with XRD. The oxidation of ethanol from a proper solution using the carbonaceous specimen and the carbon fibres as working electrodes was examined by cyclic voltammetry.