ABSTRACT
In this study, layered double hydroxide (LDH) consisting of Mg(II) and Fe(III) (Mg/Fe-LDH) was synthesized by using a combination of coprecipitation with hydrothermal aging, and its anion-exchange properties were investigated. Through various analyses, the chemical formula of the proposed Mg/Fe-LDH was determined to be [Mg(0.76)Fe(0.24)(OH)(2)](Cl(-))(0.21)(CO(3)(2-))(0.02)·0.76H(2)O. Furthermore, amorphous Fe(III) impurities were contained in the present Mg/Fe-LDH. The proposed Mg/Fe-LDH exhibited clear selectivity for nitrate ions dissolved in water. This selectivity for nitrate ions can be explained by an anion-sieve effect by the existence of amorphous Fe(III) impurities. Our findings suggest that it is possible to synthesize LDHs with high selectivity for various anions by effective hybridizing Fe(III) impurities.