Provided is a layered double hydroxide oriented membrane in which layered double hydroxide plate-like particles are highly oriented in the approximately perpendicular direction and which is also suitable for densification. The layered double hydroxide oriented membrane of the present invention is composed of a layered double hydroxide represented by the general formula: M.sup.2+.sub.1-xM.sup.3+.sub.x(OH).sub.2A.sup.n−.sub.x/n.mH.sub.2O wherein M.sup.2+ is a divalent cation, M.sup.3+ is a trivalent cation, A.sup.n− is an anion having a valency of n, n is an integer of 1 or greater, x is 0.1 to 0.4, and m is 0 or greater, wherein when a surface of the oriented membrane is measured by X-ray diffractometry, a peak of a (003) plane is not substantially detected or is detected to be smaller than a peak of a (012) plane.

There is disclosed a talc particulate having a d.sub.50 of from about 0.5 to 5.0 μm and comprising less than about 500 ppm of particles having a particle size of equal to or greater than 45 μm and a shape factor equal to or greater than about 40. A process for making the talc particulate is also disclosed. The talc particulate may be used in polymer compositions as a filler from which polymer composites and articles may be formed.

Surface-modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are disclosed, as well as processes by which they are made, and uses of the LDHs in composite materials. The surface-modified LDHs of the invention are more organophilic than their unmodified analogues, which allows the LDHs to be incorporated in a wide variety of materials, wherein the interesting functionality of LDHs may be exploited.

The present invention provides a novel anion conductor which comprises a layered metal hydroxide and can be used as an alkaline electrolyte film for use in a fuel cell or the like. An anion conductor characterized by comprising a molded product of a layered metal hydroxide represented by formula (1): [M.sub.x(OH).sub.y(A).sub.(αx-y)/z-nH.sub.2O] (wherein M represents a metal that can serve as a bivalent or trivalent cation; α represents the number of valency of the metal M, A represents an atom or an atomic group that can serve as an anion, and z represents the number of valency of the anion A, wherein, when (αx-y)/z is 2 or greater, A's may be different types of anions which can serve as anions having the same valencies as each other, or may be anions having different valencies from each other; and n represents the average number of molecules of interlayer water contained per one repeating unit). The anion conductor according to the present invention is composed of an inorganic material, and therefore has excellent heat resistance and physical strength and can be operated for a longer period at a higher temperature compared with the conventional ones when used as an anion conductor for a fuel cell, an air cell or the like.

A lactic acid adsorbent includes at least one of a layered double hydroxide that contains multiple metal hydroxide layers and also contains anions and water molecules held between the metal hydroxide layers, or a layered double oxide that is an oxide of a layered double hydroxide. The metal hydroxide layers contain divalent metal ions M.sup.2+ and trivalent metal ions M.sup.3+, mole ratio (M.sup.2+/M.sup.3+) of the divalent metal ions M.sup.2+ to the trivalent metal ions M.sup.3+ in a layered double hydroxide is 1.9 to 3.6, and the mole ratio in a layered double oxide is 1.8 to 3.6.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH).sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH).sub.2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.

Provided is a layered double hydroxide membrane containing a layered double hydroxide represented by the formula: M.sup.2+.sub.1−xM.sup.3+.sub.x(OH).sub.2A.sup.n−.sub.x/n.mH.sub.2O (where M.sup.2+ represents a divalent cation, M.sup.3+ represents a trivalent cation, A.sup.n− represents an n-valent anion, n is an integer of 1 or more, and x is 0.1 to 0.4), the layered double hydroxide membrane having water impermeability. The layered double hydroxide membrane includes a dense layer having water impermeability, and a non-flat surface structure that is rich in voids and/or protrusions and disposed on at least one side of the dense layer. The present invention provides an LDH membrane suitable for use as a solid electrolyte separator for a battery, the LDH membrane including a dense layer having water impermeability, and a specific structure disposed on at least one side of the dense layer and suitable for reducing the interfacial resistance between the LDH membrane and an electrolytic solution.

A method of making a synthetic hectorite-type mineral is described, along with its resulting physical and rheological properties. The synthetic hectorite-type mineral is a 2:1 phyllosilicate essentially free of aluminum, and having a trioctahedral structure with Mg2+ and Li+ occupying octahedral sites. As a hydrogel, the synthetic hectorite-type mineral has a swell index of greater than 55 mL, and a yield point of greater than 290 Pa. The method of making uses a MgO/MgCO3 buffer system, with heating for about 2 hours at temperatures of no higher than 300° C. and pressures of no higher than 600 psi.

It discloses a method for preparing a magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcite-loaded nano zero-valent iron material for specifically removing perfluorooctanoic acid in a water environment and an optimized process for removing perfluorooctanoic acid thereby, and relates to the technical field of removing persistent organic pollutants in water using adsorption method and oxidation-reduction method and, in particular, to a composite material prepared by loading a nano zero-valent iron on magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcite using liquid phase reduction method.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to synthetic functionalized additives, which may comprise a layered magnesium silicate. The present disclosure is also directed to drilling fluids that may comprise an aqueous base fluid and a synthetic functionalized additive. The present disclosure is further directed to methods for producing drilling fluids.