Conversion of graphite into mellitic acid

✍ Scribed by Hahn Chi-Sun; Cho Nam-Sook; Yang Hyun-Sang

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 418 KB
• Volume: 19
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(81)90048-8

✦ Synopsis

A fast one step oxidation method for converting poorly crystalline graphite, identified by its X-ray diffraction angle of from 26.5 to 26.7", into mellitic acid has been developed. The oxidant used is a mixture consisting of nitric, sulphuric, and perchloric acids in a ratio of 1:6: 1. Oxidation goes to completion within 7 hr at atmospheric pressure and the reaction time can be further reduced to 1.25-2.5 hr by the presence of a catalyst such as V205, MOOR, PbO?, A1203. Ag,O or Na202. The reaction product was found to contain only mellitic acid with an over-all yield of about 30%.