Reference Number: T03-06

Inventors: Cox, Sherman D. and Wise, Kenneth J. on behalf of Minerals Technologies Inc. Assigned to Mid-America Commercialization Corporation.

Abstract: An aggregated synthetic hydrotalcite having a substantially spheroidal shape and an average diameter of up to about 60 .mu.m is disclosed. The aggregates are composed of individual platy particles having plate diameters of from about 0.05 to about 10 .mu.m. The material has a low tapped density, a high pore volume and a high specific surface area. A process for producing the product is also disclosed. Product particle size is determined by controlling process parameters including reaction temperature and pH, stirring speed of the reaction mixture, and reactant addition rates and concentrations. These reactant concentrations include aqueous solutions of soluble magnesium and aluminum salts, which are mixed in a molar ratio of from about 2.5:1 to 4:1, and a basic solution containing excess carbonate and base to maintain the reaction mixture at a pH of from about 8.5 to about 9.5.

Applications
- Destructive adsorbent
- Plastic stabilizer
- Pharmaceutical antacid
- Catalyst
- Ion exchanger
- Catalyst Support

Advantages: This synthetic hydrotalcite technology provides the following advantages that enable the technology to be optimized for specific applications:
- Higher pore volume and interconnected pores
- Uniformly spheroidal shape
- Tough and rigid, yet much lighter weight than conventional hydrotalcite
- High surface area
- Larger size
- Low specific density
- Ability to customize particle size distribution

IP Protection: The technology is covered under U.S. Patent 5,364,828 and Patent EP0722422 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. A patent application has been filed in Canada and Japan.

For NISTAC Technology Licensing 
Discussions Contact:
Bob Reader
Direct:  (785) 532-3903
or (785) 532-3900