Selective Intercalation of Graphite Oxide by Methanol in Water/Methanol Mixtures

Graphite oxide is selectively intercalated by methanol when exposed to liquid water/methanol mixtures with methanol fraction in the range 20–100%. Insertion of water into the GO structure occurs only when the content of water in the mixture with methanol is increased up to 90%. This conclusion is confirmed by both ambient temperature XRD data and specific temperature variations of the GO structure due to insertion/deinsertion of an additional methanol monolayer observed upon cooling/heating. The composition of GO–methanol solvate phases was determined for both low temperature and ambient temperature phases. Understanding of graphite oxide structural properties in binary water/methanol mixtures is important for understanding the unusual permeation properties of graphene oxide membranes for water and alcohols. It is suggested that graphite oxide prepared by Brodie’s method can be used for purification of water using selective extraction of methanol from water/alcohol mixtures.