Expanded graphite/TiO2/NiO (EG/TiO2/NiO) or EG/TiO2 composites were prepared by abruptly heating a mixture mainly consisting of expandable graphite, titanium isopropoxide and nickel containing compound or a mixture mainly consisting of expandable graphite and titanium isopropoxide at around 1000 degrees C, respectively. The products were characterized by X-ray diffractiometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The decomposition degree of the crude oil absorbed into the EGs was evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy. Results show that the crude oil absorbed into pure EG, EG/TiO2/NiO and EG/TiO2 all could be decomposed under UV irradiation, and the sequence of decomposition degree of the absorbed crude oil in the three cases could be concluded as: EG/TiO2/NiO>EG/TiO2>pure EG. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.