Synthesis and separation of mellitic acid and graphite oxide colloid through electrochemical oxidation of graphite in deionized water

Electrochemical oxidation of graphite anode in deionized water at galvanostatic mode is investigated. It is found that mellitic acid and graphite oxide colloid (>20 nm) are coexisted as main products, as identified by XRD and TEM, FTIR and XPS. They can be separated successfully through several procedures. A few amounts of graphene and graphene rolls are also appeared as co-products.