Synthesis and phosphate uptake behavior of Zr4+ incorporated MgAl-layered double hydroxides

We synthesized Zr(4+) incorporated MgAl-layered double hydroxides, Mg(AlZr)-LDH(A) (where A denotes a counteranion in the interlayer space and is expressed as CO(3) for carbonate and Cl for chloride ions), with different molar ratios of Mg/(Al+Zr). Then we characterized their uptake behavior toward phosphate ions. CO(3)-type tertiary LDH materials synthesized at room temperature show low crystallinity, whereas the highly crystalline Cl-type tertiary LDH, [Mg(0.68)Al(0.17)Zr(0.14)(OH)(2)][Cl(0.26)(CO(3))(0.04)1.24H(2)O], was synthesized for the first time using a hydrothermal treatment at 120 degrees C. The distribution coefficients (K(d)) of oxo-anions were measured with a mixed solution containing trace amounts of the anions. The selectivity sequences were Cl(-), NO(-)(3)