The　graphene　sheets　were　modified　and　separated　by　S　based　groups;　sheets　seldom　form　a　conventional　reduced　graphene　oxide　structure.　The　more　disorganised　the　sheet　stack,　the　more　mesopores　and　macropores　they　form.　Sulphur　based　groups　and　residual　oxygenated　functional　groups　effectively　improve　pore　size.　The　products　show　promising　performance　in　water　purification.　Adsorption　data　indicated　that　the　porosity　and　binding　site　had　remarkable　influence　on　the　adsorption　capacity　than　high　surface　area.　©　2014　W.　S.　Maney　&　Son　Ltd.