Decomposition of H₂O₂ on activated carbon obtained from olive stones

Abstract Activated carbons were prepared from olive oil solid wastes by treatment in different schemes: impregnation with H 3 PO 4 followed by pyrolysis at 300–700 °C, by steam pyrolysis at 600–700 °C, or by conventional steam activation at 850 °C. Porosity characteristics were determined by analysis of nitrogen adsorption isotherms, and carbons of widely different properties and surface pH values were obtained. Decomposition of H 2 O 2 in dilute unbuffered solution was followed by measuring evolved oxygen volumetrically. First‐order kinetics was followed, and the catalytic rate coefficients were evaluated. The carbons tested showed appreciable activity where evolved oxygen attained ≈10% of the stoichiometric amount in 1 h. The degree of decomposition showed inverse dependence on surface area, pore volume and mean pore dimensions. The chemical nature of the surface, rather than the porosity characteristics, was the principal factor in enhancing the disproportionation of H 2 O 2 on the activated carbon surface. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry