Incorporation of rare-earth ions in Mg-Al layered double hydroxides: intercalation with an [Eu(EDTA)] chelate

Reaction of an aqueous slurry of an Mg₂Al-NO₃ layered double hydroxide with a four-fold excess of NaEu(EDTA)] gives a material which analyses for Mg_0.68Al_0.32(OH)₂Eu(EDTA)]_0.10(CO₃)_0.11·0.66H₂O. The interlayer spacing of the material is 13.8 Å, corresponding to a gallery height of 9.0 Å, which accords with the maximal dimensions (9-10 Å) of the anion in metal-EDTA complex salts as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Geometrical considerations show that the charge density on the layered double hydroxide layers is too high to be balanced by intercalation of Eu(EDTA)]⁻ alone, necessitating the co-intercalation of carbonate ions which have a much higher charge density.