An X-ray scattering investigation of the carbonization of olive stones Original Research Article

The X-ray spectra scattered by olive stones and the corresponding carbonization products obtained up to 800 °C have been determined. The observed Compton intensity is in prominence in relation to the Rayleigh intensity, as a consequence of the chemical composition of the materials, where light (low atomic number) elements predominate. Since carbonization implies a considerable loss of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and consequently a decrease in the number of scattering entities per unit volume, there is a decrease in the Compton and Rayleigh intensities (IC and IR) with increasing temperature of the carbonization process. However, the IRIC ratio is kept constant for all samples resulting from carbonization. Consequently, the original precursor as well as the carbonized materials constitute a solid matrix insensitive to the changes in theIRIC ratio, and this may be very useful when quantitative determination of heavy atoms deliberately incorporated to the carbon material is needed.