Factors controlling the textural properties of zirconia and alumina pillared clays

The texture development of a saponite and a montmorillonite, intercalated w ith zirconium and aluminium oligomers, after calcination at 500 degrees C h as been studied. Remarkable differences were observed among samples, depend ing on the source of the intercalating polycations and the parent material. On calcining, the alumina pillared clays suffered noticeable specific surf ace area and micropore volume losses, which have been related to the interl ayer and interpillar distances of the samples. On the contrary, the zirconi a pillared clays showed a slight surface area increase, which affected both micropores and mesopores and could be due to the combined effect of the th ermal decomposition of the zirconium oligomers and the possible presence of mesoporous ZrO2 particles.