An improved Hummers method for eco-friendly synthesis of graphene oxide

Abstract An improved Hummers method without using NaNO 3 can produce graphene oxide nearly the same to that prepared by conventional Hummers method. This modification does not decrease the yield of product, eliminating the evolution of NO 2 /N 2 O 4 toxic gasses and simplifying the disposal of waste water because of the inexistence of Na + and NO 3 − ions. For the first time, we also developed a prototype method of post-treating the waste water collected from the systems of synthesizing and purifying graphene oxide. The content of Mn 2+ ions in the purified waste water was measured to be lower than the guideline value for drinking water.

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