Electrocatalytic effect of NiO supported onto activated carbon in oxidizing phenol at graphite electrode: Application in tap water and olive oil samples

The activated carbon doped by nickel oxide (NiO/AC) was prepared using solid reaction. The obtained powder was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The NiO/AC was also used to catalyze the electro-oxidation of phenol at carbon paste electrode (CPE) using electrochemical approaches. Kinetic parameters of phenol oxidation (as the electron transfer coefficient, diffusion coefficient and heterogeneous rate constant) were investigated. The results confirm that phenol oxidation is catalyzed by nickel oxide, due to resonance, steric and aggregation effects.