Patent ID: 8246856

Claim:
A process for manufacturing oxidized graphite, the process comprising: (a) mixing concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid in a reaction vessel for a time sufficient to generate nitronium ions wherein the ratio of the sulfuric acid to the nitric acid is 1.6:1 to 3:1 (v/v), and wherein neither acid is a fuming acid; (b) combining the acids from step (a) and graphite to form a first mixture, wherein the acids from (a) are combined with the graphite so that a slight excess of nitronium ion is present; (c) stirring the first mixture for a time sufficient to form a graphite-nitronium intermediate; (d) adding aqueous solution comprising NaClO 3 at a concentration of at least 2.5 molar in a ratio of 1:4 to 1:7.17 (graphite:chlorate) to the first mixture at 0-35° C. and thereby forming a second mixture, wherein the chlorate is added so that when it reacts with the graphite-nitronium complex the rate of formation of ClO 2 is minimized; (f) stirring the second mixture; and (g) isolating the oxidized graphite from the reaction mixture.