| abstract |
A laminar clay having ion-exchange property is mixed with a solution containing polynuclear metal hydroxo cations or positively charged hydroxide or oxide fine particles to serve as precursor ions (3) of inorganic pillars so as to exchange a part of cations (2) between clay layers (1) with the precursor ions (3) of the inorganic pillars. Next, the laminar clay thus obtained is heat-treated at 100 DEG to 900 DEG C. to generate a porous clay intercalation compound, this porous clay intercalation compound is mixed with an ammonium salt aqueous solution to ion-exchange remaining cations (2) with ammonium ions (5). This porous clay intercalation compound is heat treated again at 200 DEG to 900 DEG C. to desorb ammonia, so as to allow hydrogen ions (6) to be carried in the pore portions of the porous clay intercalation compound and on its surface portions. The porous clay intercalation compound thus obtained has both a shape selectivity function owing to its uniform pore structure and high catalytic activity owing to the hydrogen ions (6). |