Multistep synthesis of covalently sulfonated magnetic graphene oxide was achieved by starting from Hummer's method to produce graphene oxide (GO) from chemical oxidation of graphite. Then, GO nanosheets were applied to support Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@GO) using co-precipitation method in the presence of GO sheets. This strategy led to formation of uniform particles of Fe3O4 on the surface of GO sheets. Then, it was sulfonated (Fe3O4@GO-Pr-SO3H) through modification with 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and subsequent oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In comparison, the covalently bonded propyl sulfonic acid groups were more prevailing rather to sulfonic acids of GO itself. The proposed catalyst was more active and recyclable at least for 11 runs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.