This is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/021,839 filed Feb. 11, 1998 now abandoned. The entire disclosure of the prior application(s) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention involves the preparation of anionic clays and the preparation of Mg—Al solid solutions by heat-treatment of the anionic clay. Anionic clays have a crystal structure which consists of positively charged layers built up of specific combinations of metal hydroxides between which there are anions and water molecules. Hydrotalcite is an example of a naturally occurring anionic clay, in which carbonate is the predominant anion present. Meixnerite is an anionic clay wherein hydroxyl is the predominant anion present. 
     In hydrotalcite-like anionic clays the brucite-like main layers are built up of octahedra alternating with interlayers in which water molecules and anions, more particularly carbonate ions, are distributed. The interlayers may contain anions such as NO 3   − , OH, Cl − , Br − , I − , SO 4   2− , SiO 3   2− , CrO 4   2− , BO 3   2− , MnO 4   − , HGaO 3   2− , HVO 4   2− , ClO 4   − , BO 3   2− , pillaring anions such as V 10 O 26   −6  and Mo 7 O 24   6− . monocarboxylates such as acetate, dicarboxylates such as oxalate, alkyl sulphonates such as laurylsulphonate. 
     It should be noted that a variety of terms are used to describe the material which is referred to in this patent as an anionic clay. Hydrotalcite-like and layered double hydroxide are interchangeably used by those skilled in the art. In this patent application we refer to the materials as anionic clays, comprising within that term hydrotalcite-like and layered double hydroxide materials. 
     The preparation of anionic clays has been described in many prior art publications. 
     Recently, two major reviews of anionic clay chemistry were published in which the synthesis methods available for anionic clay synthesis have been summarized, F. Cavani et al “Hydrotalcite-type anionic clays: Preparation, Properties and Applications,”  Catalysis Today”,  11 (1991) Elsevier Science Publishers B. V. Amsterdam. 
     J P Besse and others “ Anionic clays:trends in pillary chemistry, its synthesis and microporous solids”  (1992), 2, 108, editors: M. I. Occelli, H. E. Robson, Van Nostrand Reinhold, N. Y. 
     In these reviews the authors state that a characteristic of anionic clays is that mild calcination at 500° C. results in the formation of a disordered MgO-like product. Said disordered MgO-like product is distinguishable from spinel (which results upon severe calcination) and from anionic clays. In this patent application we refer to said disordered MgO-like materials as Mg—Al solid solutions. Furthermore, these Mg—Al solid solutions contain a well-known memory effect whereby the exposure to water of such calcined materials results in the reformation of the anionic clay structure 
     For work on anionic clays, reference is given to the following articles: 
       Helv. Chim. Acta,  25, 106-137 and 555-569 (1942) 
       J. Am. Ceram. Soc.,  42, no. 3, 121 (1959) 
       Chemistry Letters  (Japan), 843 (1973) 
       Clays and Clay Minerals,  23, 369 (1975) 
       Clays and Clay Minerals,  28, 50 (1980) 
       Clays and Clay Minerals,  34, 507 (1996) 
       Materials Chemistry and Physics,  14, 569 (1986). 
     In addition there is an extensive amount of patent literature on the use of anionic clays and processes for their preparation 
     European Patent Application 0 536 879 describes a method for introducing pH-dependent anions into the clay. The clay is prepared by the addition of a solution of Al(NO 3 ) 3  and Mg(NO 3 ) 2  to a basic solution containing borate anions. The product is then filtered, washed repeatedly with water, and dried overnight. Additionally mixtures of Zn/Mg are used. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,792 by Miyata entitled “Composite Metal Hydroxides” a range of materials is prepared into which an extensive range of cations is incorporated, including Sc, La, Th, In, etc. In the examples given solutions of the divalent and trivalent cations are prepared and mixed with base to cause co-precipitation. The resulting products are filtered, washed with water, and dried at 80° C. Example 1 refers to Mg and Al and Example 2 to Mg and Bi. Other examples are given, and in each case soluble salts are used to make solutions prior to precipitation of the anionic clay at high pH. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,523 by Miyata entitled “Composite Metal Hydroxides” also a large number of preparation examples is outlined. The underlying chemistry, however, is again based on the co-precipitation of soluble salts followed by washing and drying. It is important to emphasize that washing is a necessary part of such preparations, because to create a basic environment for co-precipitation of the metal ions a basic solution is needed and this is provided by NaOH/Na 2 CO 3  solutions. Residual sodium, for example, can have a significant deleterious effect on the subsequent performance of the product as a catalyst or oxide support. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,525 (Miyata) very similar procedures are again described. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,814 to Miyata et al. a method for making fibrous hydrotalcite is described. Such materials differ in structure from the normal plate-like morphology. The synthesis again involves soluble salts. For example, an aqueous solution of a mixture of MgCl 2  and CaCl 2  is prepared and suitably aged. From this a needle-like product Mg 2 (OH) 3 Cl.4H 2 O precipitates. A separate solution of sodium aluminate is then reacted in an autoclave with the solid Mg 2 (OH) 3 Cl.4H 2 O and the product is again filtered, washed with water, and dried. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,026 to Reichle, in which heat-treated anionic clays are described as catalysts for aldol condensation reactions, again use is made of magnesium and aluminum nitrate salt solutions. Such solutions being added to a second solution of NAOH and Na 2 CO 3 . After precipitation the slurry is filtered and washed twice with distilled water before drying at 125° C. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,156 to Misra the preparation of a novel absorbent based on mixing activated alumina and hydrotalcite is described. The hydrotalcite is made by reacting activated MgO (prepared by activating a magnesium compound such as magnesium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide) with aqueous solutions containing aluminate, carbonate and hydroxyl ions. As an example the solution is made from NAOH, Na 2 CO 3  and Al 2 O 3 . In particular, the synthesis involves the use of industrial Bayer liquor as the source of Al. The resulting products are washed and filtered before drying at 105° C. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,457 to Misra a method is described for producing hydrotalcites in high yield by reacting activated magnesia with an aqueous solution containing aluminate, carbonate, and hydroxyl ions. 
     The methodology is repeated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,156. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,980 to Kelkar et at al. a process is described for making novel catalysts, catalyst supports, and absorbers comprising synthetic hydrotalcite-like binders. The synthesis of the typical sheet hydrotalcite involves reacting pseudo-boehmite to which acetic acid has been added to peptize the pseudo-boehmite. This is then mixed with magnesia. More importantly, the patent summary states clearly that the invention uses mono carboxylic organic acids such as formic, propionic and isobutyric acid. In this patent the conventional approaches to preparing hydrotalcite are presented. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,861 a process is disclosed for preparing a catalysts for synthesis gas production based on hydrotalcite. The method of preparation is again based, on the co-precipitation of soluble salts by mixing with base, for example, by the addition of a solution of RhCl 3 , Mg(NO 3 ) 2  and Al(NO 3 ) 3  to a solution of Na 2 CO 3  and NaOH. 
     Also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,537 to Bhattacharyya in the preparation of nickel-containing catalysts based on hydrotalcite use is made of the co-precipitation of soluble magnesium and aluminum salts. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,418 to Bhattacharyya a catalyst for removing sulphur oxides or nitrogen oxides from a gaseous mixture is made by calcining an anionic clay, said anionic clay having been prepared by co-precipitation of a solution of Mg(NO 3 ) 2 , Al(NO 3 ) 3  and Ce(NO 3 ) 3 . The product again is filtered and repeatedly washed with de-ionized water. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,898/WO 9110505 Pinnavaia et al. describe layered double hydroxide sorbents for the removal of sulphur oxide(s) from flue gases, which layered double hydroxide is prepared by reacting a solution of Al and Mg nitrates or chlorides with a solution of NAOH and Na 2 CO 3 . In U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,203/WO 9118670 layered double hydroxides intercalated with polyoxo anions are described, with the parent clay being made by co-precipitation techniques. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,286 in the name of Alcoa a process for the preparation of meixnerite is described. The meixnerite may be contacted with a dicarboxylate or polycarboxylate anion to form a hydrotalcite-like material. In comparative examples 1-3 hydromagnesite is contacted with aluminum trihydrate in a CO 2  atmosphere, greater than 30 atmospheres. No hydrotalcite was obtained in these examples. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,316 a method for the preparation of meixnerite is described using magnesium oxide and transition alumina. For comparative purposes aluminum trihydrate was used in combination with magnesium oxide. It was indicated that this method did not work as well as with transition alumina. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,244 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,168 describe the use of pillaring anions in anionic clays. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,581 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,382 to van Broekhoven co-precipitation of soluble salts such as Mg(NO 3 ) 2  and Al(NO 3 ) 3  with, and without the incorporation of rare earth salts was used for the preparation of anionic clays as catalyst components and additives. A variety of anions and di- and tri-valent cations are described. 
     As indicated in the description of the prior art given-above, there are many applications of anionic clays. 
     These include but are not restricted to: catalysts, adsorbents, drilling muds, catalyst supports and carriers, extenders and applications in the medical field. In particular van Broekhoven has described their use in SO x  abatement chemistry. 
     Because of this wide variety of large-scale commercial applications for these materials, new processes utilizing alternative inexpensive raw materials and which can be carried out in continuous mode are needed to provide a more cost-effective and environmentally compatible processes for making anionic clays. In particular, from the prior art described above one can conclude that the preparation process can be improved in the following ways: the use of cheaper sources of reactants, processes for easier handling of the reactants, so that there is no need for washing or filtration, eliminating the filtration problems associated with these fine-particled materials, the avoidance of alkali metals (which can be particularly disadvantageous for certain catalytic applications): In prior art preparations organic acids were used to peptize alumina. The use of organic acids is expensive and introduces an additional step in the synthesis process and is therefore not cost-effective. Further, in drying or calcining the anionic clay prepared by prior art processes gaseous emissions of nitrogen oxides, halogens, sulphur oxides, etc. are encountered which cause environmental pollution problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Our invention includes a process for producing anionic clay-containing compositions using raw materials which are inexpensive and utilizing such raw materials in a simple process which is extremely suitable to be carried out in continuous mode. The process involves reacting mixtures with or without stirring in water at ambient or elevated temperature at atmospheric or elevated pressure. Such continuous processes can be operated in standard industrial equipment. More specifically, there is no need for washing or filtering, and a wide range of ratios of Mg/Al in the reaction product is possible. 
     In the process according to the invention an aluminum source and a magnesium source, for instance magnesium oxide or brucite, reacted in aqueous suspension to obtain an anionic clay and unreacted a source-containing composition. This invention involves the use of aluminum trihydrate (such as gibbsite, bayerite or nordstrandite) or thermally treated forms thereof as aluminum source. The reaction is carried out at ambient or elevated temperature and ambient or elevated pressure and the reaction mixture results in the direct formation of an anionic clay which can be obtained by simply drying the slurry continuously retrieved from the reactor. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern (PXRD) suggests that the product is comparable to anionic clays made by other standard (batch) methods. The physical and chemical properties of the product are also comparable to those anionic clays made by the other conventional methods. The overall process of this invention is very flexible, enabling a wide variety cf anionic clay-containing compositions and anionic clay-like materials involving for example carbonate, hydroxide and other anions to be prepared in an economically and environmental-friendly manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a PXRD pattern of commercially available Mg—Al carbonate anionic clay. 
     FIG. 2 shows a PXRD pattern of a Mg—Al carbonate anionic clay prepared by coprecipitation. 
     FIG. 3 shows a PXRD pattern of a Mg—Al anionic clay-containing composition prepared by the process according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention involves the preparation of an anionic clay-containing composition. In particular it describes a process for the preparation of an anionic clay-containing composition wherein an aluminum source and a magnesium source are reacted in aqueous suspension to obtain an anionic clay and unreacted aluminum source-containing composition, the aluminum source being aluminum trihydrate or its thermally treated forms. The magnesium source may be composed of a solution of a magnesium salt, a solid magnesium-bearing compound or a mixture of the two. Reaction between the Mg source and aluminum trihydrate or its thermally treated form results in the direct formation of an anionic clay. In the process according to the invention part of the aluminum source remains unreacted and ends up in the anionic clay-containing composition. The reaction takes place at room temperature or higher. At temperatures higher than 100° C., the reaction is preferably carried out under autogeneous conditions. In the method according to the invention carbonate, hydroxyl, or other anions or mixtures thereof, either provided within the reaction medium for example by feeding a soluble salt to the reactor or absorbed during the synthesis from the atmosphere, are incorporated into the interlayer region as the necessary charge-balancing anion. 
     Anionic clays prepared by this method exhibit the well known properties and characteristics (e.g. chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction pattern, FTIR, thermal decomposition characteristics, surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution) usually associated with anionic clays prepared by the customary and previously disclosed methods. 
     Upon being heated, anionic clays generally form Mg—Al solid solutions, and at higher temperatures, spinels. When used as a catalyst, an adsorbent (for instance a SO x  adsorbent for catalytic cracking reactions), or a catalyst support, the anionic clay according to the invention is usually heated during preparation and is thus in the Mg—Al solid solution form. During use in a FCC unit, the catalyst or adsorbent is converted from an anionic clay into Mg—Al solid solutions. 
     Therefore, the present invention is also directed to a process wherein an anionic clay-containing composition prepared by the process according to the invention, is heat-treated at a temperature between 300 and 1200° C. to form a Mg—Al-containing solid solution and/or spinel-containing composition. 
     The anionic clay in the composition according to the invention has a layered structure corresponding to the general formula 
     
       
         [Mg m   2− Al n   3+ (OH) 2m+2n .](X n/z   2− ). b H 2 O  
       
     
     Wherein m and n have a value such that m/n=1 to 10, preferably 1 to 6, and b has a value in the range of from 0 to 10, generally a value of 2 to 6 and often a value of about 4. X may be CO 3   2− , OH −  or any other anion normally present in the interlayers of anionic clays. It is more preferred that m/n should have a value of 2 to 4, more particularly a value close to 3. 
     Since the present process does not require washing of the product or filtering, there is no filtrate waste or gaseous emissions (e.g. from acid decomposition), making the process particularly environmental-friendly and more suited to the environmental constraints which are increasingly imposed on commercial operations The product can be spray dried directly to. form microspheres or can be extruded to form shaped bodies. 
     Aluminium source 
     The present invention includes the use of crystalline aluminum trihydrate (ATH), for example gibbsites provided by Reynolds Aluminum Company RH-20® or JM Huber Micral® grades. Also BOC (Bauxite Ore Concentrate), bayerite and nordstrandite are suitable aluminium trihydrates. BOC is the cheapest alumina source. The alumina trihydrate is preferred to have a small particle size. In another embodiment of the invention thermally treated forms of gibbsite are used. Combinations of aluminum trihydrate and thermally treated forms of aluminum trihydrate can also be used. The calcined aluminum trihydrate is readily obtained by thermally treating aluminum trihydrate (gibbsite) at a temperature ranging from 100 to 800° C. for 15 minutes to 24 hours. In any event, the calcining temperature and time for obtaining calcined aluminum trihydrate should be sufficient to cause a measurable increase of the surface area in view of the surface area of the gibbsite as produced by the Bayer process which is generally between 30 and 50 m 2 /g. It should be noted that within the concept of this invention flash calcined alumina is also considered to be a thermally treated form of aluminum trihydrate, although generally it is considered a very specific alumina. Flash calcined alumina is obtained by treating aluminum trihydrate at temperatures between 800-1000° C. for very short periods of time in special industrial equipment, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,072 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,129. Combinations of various thermally treated forms of aluminum trihydrate can also be used. Preferably the aluminum source is fed to the reactor in the form of a slurry. In particular we emphasize that there is no need to use a peptizable alumina source (gibbsite is not peptizable) and as a result no need to add either mineral or organic acid to vary the pH of the mixture. As mentioned above, in the present invention part of the aluminum trihydrate or its thermally form remains unreacted and ends up in the resulting anionic clay-containing composition. In the process according to our invention other aluminum sources beside aluminum trihydrate or its thermally treated forms may be added to the aqueous suspension such as oxides and hydroxides of aluminum, (e.g. sols, flash calcined alumina, gels, pseudo-boehmite, boehmite) aluminum salts such as aluminum nitrate, aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorohydrate and sodium aluminate. The other aluminum sources may be soluble or insoluble in water and may be added to the aluminum trihydrate and/or its thermally treated form or it may be added to the aqueous suspension separately as a solid, a solution or as a suspension. 
     Magnesium source 
     Mg-bearing sources which may be used include MgO, Mg(OH) 2 , magnesium acetate, magnesium formate, magnesium hydroxy acetate, hydromagnesite (Mg 3 (CO 3 ) 4 (OH) 2 ), magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride, dolomite and sepiolite. Both solid Mg sources and soluble Mg salts are suitable. Also combinations of Mg sources may be used. The magnesium source may be added to the reactor as a solid, a solution, or, preferably, as a slurry. The magnesium source may also be combined with the aluminum source before it is added to the reactor. 
     Conditions 
     Because of its simplicity, this process is particularly suitable to be carried out in a continuous mode. Thereto an aluminum source and a magnesium source are fed to a reactor and reacted in aqueous suspension to obtain an anionic clay-containing composition. In the case of a batch process an aluminum source and a magnesium source are added to a reactor and reacted in aqueous suspension to obtain an anionic clay-containing composition. Within the context of this invention a reactor is considered to be any confined zone in which the reaction between the aluminum source and magnesium source takes place. The reactor may be equipped with stirrers, baffles etcetera to ensure homogeneous mixing of the reactants. The reaction can take place with or without stirring, at ambient or at elevated temperature and at atmospheric or elevated pressure. Usually, a temperature between 0 and 100° C. is used at or above atmospheric pressure. It is preferred to carry out the process at temperatures above 50° C. rather than at room temperature, because this results in anionic clays with sharper peaks in the x-ray diffraction pattern than anionic clay-containing compositions obtained at room temperature. The reactor may be heated by any heating source such as a furnace, microwave, infrared sources, heating jackets (either electrical or with a heating fluid), lamps, etcetera. 
     The aqueous suspension in the reactor may be obtained by either adding slurries of the starting materials, either combined or separate, to the reactor or adding magnesium source to a slurry of alumina trihydrate and/or its calcined form or vice versa and adding the resulting slurry to the reactor. It is possible to treat, for instance the aluminum trihydrate slurry at elevated temperature and then add either the Mg source per se, or add the Mg source in a slurry or solution either to the reactor or the aluminium source slurry. Given particular facilities which might be available, the continuous process can be conducted hydrothermally. This is particularly advantageous, because it this is faster and a higher conversion is obtained. There is no need to wash or filter the product, as unwanted ions (e.g. sodium, ammonium, chloride, sulphate) which are frequently encountered when using other preparation methods, are absent in the product. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the process is conducted in a multi-step process, e.g. a slurry of ATH and Mg source is treated thermally in a first reactor at a mild temperature, followed by a hydrothermal treatment in a second reactor. If desired a preformed anionic clay may be added to the reactor. The preformed clay may be recycled anionic clay from the reaction mixture or anionic clay made separately by the process according to the invention or any other process. 
     If desired, organic or inorganic acids and bases, for example for control of the pH, may be fed to the reactor or added to either the magnesium source or the aluminum source before they are fed to the reactor. An example of a preferred pH modifier is an ammonium base, because upon drying no deleterious cations remain in the anionic clay. 
     If desired, the anionic clay-containing composition prepared by the process according to the invention may be subjected to ion exchange. Upon ion exchange the interlayer charge-balancing anions are replaced with other anions. The other anions are the ones commonly present in anionic clays and include pillaring anions such as V 10 O 26   −6 , Mo 7 O 24   3− , PW 12 O 40   3− , B(OH) 4   − , B 4 O 5 (OH) 4   2− , HBO 4   2− , HGaO 3   2− , CrO 4   2− . Examples of suitable pillaring anions are given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,212 which is included by reference for this purpose. The ion exchange can be conducted before or after drying the anionic clay and aluminum source-containing composition formed in the slurry. 
     The process of the invention provides wide flexibility in preparing products with a wide range of Mg:Al ratios. The Mg:Al ratio can vary from 0.1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, more preferred from 2 to 4, and especially preferred to close to 3. 
     For some applications it is desirable to have additives, both metals and non-metals, such as rare earth metals, Si, P, B, group VI, group VIII, alkaline earth (for instance Ca and Ba) and/or transition metals (for example Mn, Fe, Ti, Zr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mo, Sn), present. The metals and non-metals can easily be deposited on the anionic clay or the solid solution according to the invention or they can be added either to the alumina source or magnesium source which are added to the reactor or added the reactor separately. Suitable sources of metals or non-metals are oxides, halides or any other salt such as chlorides, nitrates etcetera. In the case of a multi-step process the metals and non-metals may be added in any of the steps. Is can be especially advantageous for controlling the distribution of the metals and non-metals in the anionic clay. 
     As mentioned above, in the present invention part of the aluminum trihydrate or its thermally form remains unreacted and ends up in the resulting anionic clay-containing composition. The resulting composition can advantageously used as an absorbent or as a catalyst additive or matrix. The composition already contains aluminum trihydrate or its thermally treated form which acts as a binder for the anionic clay in the composition. Therefore, the present invention is also directed to the anionic clay-containing composition prepared by the process of the invention. 
     The present invention is illustrated by the following examples which are not to be considered limitative by any means. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Comparative Examples Based on the State of the Art 
     Comparative Example 1 
     A commercially available sample of a Mg—Al carbonate anionic clay was obtained from Reheis Chemical Company. Its PXRD pattern is shown for illustration in FIG.  1 . 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 D(A) 
                 7.80 
                 3.89 
                 2.59 
               
               
                   
                 I/I 0   
                 100 
                 40 
                 35 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Comparative Example 2 
     This comparative example illustrates the co-precipitation method where Mg and Al salt solutions are added to a solution of base. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,523 Assignee Kyowa Chemical Industry, Japan). 
     A solution containing 0.04 M Of Al(NO 3 ) 2 .9H 2 Oand 0.08 M Of Mg(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O in 100 ml distilled water was added dropwise and with vigorous stirring to 150 ml of distilled water containing 0.05 M of Na 2 CO 3  at room temperature. Mg/Al ratio of 20. The pH was maintained close to 10 by the addition of 3N NAOH and the resulting slurry aged overnight at room temperature. The precipitate was separated by centrifuge, washed several times with hot distilled water then dried at 65° C. overnight. 
     The PXRD pattern obtained from this sample is shown in FIG.  2 . The results were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 D(A) 
                 7.84 
                 3.90 
                 2.56 
               
               
                   
                 I/I 0   
                 100 
                 40 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Thermogravimetric analysis showed three weight losses: at approximately 100, 250 and 450° C. which are ascribed to loss of physisorbed water, interlayer water and loss of CO 2  and lattice dehydroxylation. 
     Comparative Example 3 
     The product obtained from Example 1 was calcined at 500° C. for 12 h. The product gave broad X-ray diffraction lines at 45 and 63 degrees two theta similar to those obtained for samples of calcined anionic clays prepared by other established methods with a Mg:Al ratio between 2 and 5. 
     Comparative Example 4 
     The product obtained from Example 2 was calcined at 500° C. for 12 h. The product gave broad X-ray diffraction lines at 45 and 63 degrees two theta similar to those obtained for samples of calcined anionic clays prepared by other established methods with a Mg:Al ratio between 2 and 5. 
     Comparative Example 5 
     0.15 g of the product from Comparative Example 3 was added to 75 ml water at room temperature and stirred for 12 h. The product was filtered, washed and dried at 80° C. The PXRD pattern indicated that the anionic clay structure had reformed with characteristic lines at 11.5, 23.5 and 35° in the PXRD. 
     Comparative Example 6 
     0.15 g of the product from Example 4 was added to water at room temperature and stirred for 12 h. The product was filtered and dried at 80° C. The PXRD pattern indicated that the product was similar to that for Comparative Example 5 and confirmed that the anionic clay structure had reformed. 
     Examples of This Invention 
     The anionic clays may be prepared under nitrogen or carbondioxide-free atmosphere, so that the anionic clay predominantly comprises hydroxide rather than pre dominantly carbonate as charge balancing anion. It is also possible to feed carbon dioxide to the reactor so that an anionic clay results with predominantly carbonate as charge balancing anion. 
     The following examples illustrate either the use of a Gibbsite (Micral 916®) obtained from J M Huber as a source of alumina or the use of BOC. 
     Example 7 
     3.92 g of MgO was suspended in 50 cl of de-ionized water at 65° C. in a beaker in an air atmosphere. 3 g of Micral-916 Gibbsite was then added and the mixture kept at 65° C. overnight. The resulting product was then dried in air at 65° C. overnight. The product consisted of a mixture of a carbonate-containing anionic clay and unreacted Gibbsite (FIG.  3 ). 
     Example 8 
     3.92 g of MgO was suspended in 50 cl of de-ionized water at 65° C. in a beaker in an air atmosphere. 3 g of Micral-916 Gibbsite was then added and the mixture kept at 90° C. for 24 h. The resulting product was then dried in air at 65° C. overnight. The product consisted of a mixture of a carbonate-containing anionic clay and unreacted Gibbsite. 
     Example 9 
     3.92 g of MgO was suspended in 50 cl of de-ionized water at 65° C. in a beaker in an air atmosphere 3 g of Micral-916 Gibbsite was then added along with 5 wt % of the product of Example 2 and the mixture kept at 65° C. for 24 h. The resulting product was then dried in air at 65° C. overnight. The product consisted of a mixture of a carbonate-conaining anionic clay and unreacted Gibbsite. 
     Example 10 
     3.92 g of MgO was suspended in 50 cl of de-ionized water at 65° C. in a beaker in an air atmosphere. 3 g of Micral-916 Gibbsite was then added along with 5 wt % of Example 2 and the mixture hydrothermally treated at 170° C. for 1 h. The resulting product was then dried in air at 65° C. overnight. The product consisted of a mixture of a carbonate-containing anionic clay and unreacted Gibbsite.
This patent describes an economical and environment-friendly continuous process for the synthesis of anionic clay-containing compositions. It involves reacting a slurry comprising aluminium trihydrate and/or its calcined form, with a magnesium source. There is no necessity to wash or filter the product. It can be spray dried directly to form microspheres or can be extruded to form shaped bodies. The product can be combined with other ingredients in the manufacture of catalysts, absorbents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, and other commodity products.