ZIRCONIUM-PHOSPHATES ON SILICA MATRIX

Zirconium phosphates on silica matrices are of interest for potential practical applications in ion exchange, ionic conductivity and catalysis. The alpha- and gamma-layered forms of zirconium phosphate on a silica matrix were prepared and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction patterns and by their thermal behaviour. On the basis of the experimental data it may be assumed that zirconium phosphate and silica are bonded on the surface through an Si-O-P bond. This bond originates as a result of water loss due to the thermal treatment (heating at 180-degrees-C) of the sample. After drying at this temperature the samples exist in sodium form no matter whether the original material was in alpha- or in gamma-crystalline form. The attempts to intercalate various n-alkylmonoamines on the Na+-forms were unsuccessful.