Carbonaceous adsorbents based on novolac resin (N) and olive stone biomass (B) in a proportion of 20/80 and 40/60 w./w. NIO were produced. The specimens were cured (c) and pyrolyzed/carbonized (C) up to 1000 degrees C under a continuous countercurrent flow type pyrolysis operation (N20B-cC, N40B-cC). Commercial activated carbon (AC) was used for comparison reasons. Methylene blue adsorption from its aqueous solutions onto the adsorbents and kinetic analysis were investigated. The specific surface area of adsorbents and the gross calorific values (GCV) of cured materials were determined. The results show that N40B-cC presents lower weight loss and shrinkage but higher methylene blue adsorption than N20B-cC. Pseudo-second order mechanism describes better methylene blue adsorption onto all adsorbents. The specific surface area of carbonaceous and the gross calorific values of cured materials follow the order: AC > N20B-cC > N40B-cC and N100-c > N40B-c > N20B-c > B respectively. Olive stone biomass may constitute a suitable precursor for the production of carbonaceous materials. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.