Synthesis and acid-base properties of Mg-saponite

Magnesium aluminosilicate was prepared and characterized by XRD analysis, Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and thermodesorption measurements. Compared to H-forms of zeolites, Mg-saponite contains Brønsted acid sites of a lower acidity and fairly strong Lewis acid sites. On the contrary, basic sites turned out to be weak, whereas protondonor ability can be easily recognized.