Solutions containing hydroxy-FeAl oligocations (HFA) were prepared by
two procedures: (1) treatment of a mixture of FeCl3 and AlCl3 with aqu
eous Na2CO3, followed by aging of the product and (2) preliminary prep
aration and aging of hydroxy-Al13 oligocations followed by reaction of
the latter with aqueous FeCl3. Ion-exchange of Na-montmorillonite wit
h HFA yield pillared clay (designated as FeAl-PILC) with d(001) values
of 1.98-1.56 nm and a surface area of 230 m2/g. The pillar structure,
thermal stability, surface acidity, and reduction behavior of the pil
lared clays were determined by Al-27-NMR, XRD, DTA, Mossbauer spectros
copy, Py-IR TPD, TPR. Fe/Al ratios greatly affect the pillar structure
, surface area and thermal stability of FeAl-PILC. The pillar in FeAl-
PILC with Fe/Al ratio <0.5 has a Keggin structure, similar to that of
Al-PILC, but the pillar structures of FeAl-PILC with Fe/Al greater-tha
n-or-equal-to 0.5 are the ferric tripolymer species similar to those o
f Fe-PILC. The basal spacings, surface area, and thermal stability are
decreased with increasing Fe/Al ratio. There is relatively strong int
eraction between Fe and Al in the pillars. The interaction is enhanced
with decreasing Fe/Al ratio. Reduction of the Fe phase in FeAl-PILC w
as reduced by the interaction of Fe with Al.