Effect of alkali cations on the conversion of H-magadiite in tetramethylammonium hydroxide–water–1,4-dioxane system

The role of Na, K and Li cations for the conversion of protonated magadiite (H-magadiite) in presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), water and 1,4-dioxane as organic solvent, is investigated. The sodium-containing system is the most effective to the formation of a layered silicate structure (named KLS phase), while the lithium-containing system leads to another phase, FLS. Crystallization patterns and crystal morphologies are strongly influenced by the nature of the sodium salt added to the reaction mixture.