The preparation of alkyltrimethylammonium-kanemite complexes and their conversion to microporous materials.

Single layered polysilicate kanemite (NaHSi2O5·3H2O) was allowed to react with alkyltrimethylammonium chloride solutions to form alkyltrimethylammonium–kanemite complexes. During the organic intercalation, the SiO2 layers in the complexes were condensed to form three-dimensional SiO2 networks. The calcined products of the complexes had micro pores 2–4 nm in diameter, and the surface areas were ca. 900 m2g−1. The pore size of the calcined products was altered with the variation in the alkyl-chain length of the alkyltrimethylammonium ions employed.