The invention discloses a preparation method of 1,4-naphthoquinone. The preparation method comprises the following steps: taking ceric sulfate as an oxidizing agent, and dissolving the ceric sulfate into a sulfuric acid solution, thus forming a water phase; dissolving naphthalene into an organic solvent, thus forming an oil phase; mixing the water phase with the oil phase, adding an emulsifying agent, and carrying out oxidation reaction under the conditions of carrying out heat preservation and stirring; after completing the reaction, integrally cooling the water phase and the oil phase untilafter-filtration is carried out on all cerous sulfate, thus obtaining solid 1,4-naphthoquinone; separating the water phase from the oil phase, recycling the oil phase, and recycling the water phase after carrying out electrolytic regeneration on the water phase. According to the preparation method disclosed by the invention, the reaction speed is increased, and byproducts are reduced; an extraction phase of an old technology is omitted, and meanwhile, the recovery rate of naphthoquinone is increased; meanwhile, the water phase and the oil phase are both completely recycled and reused, zero emission of liquid waste is realized, the environment is not polluted, and a production method of the 1,4-naphthoquinone is economical and environment-friendly.