Washing effect on the synthesis of silica-pillared clays

Silica-pillared clays were prepared by two methods: conventional and microwave irradiated. Preparation time of the conventional intercalating solution took about two days but only 15 minutes when it was microwave irradiated. Washing extent determined the size and the amount of intercalated silica pillars. The surface areas of the compounds obtained by these two different methods are comparable within error range, but the pillaring mechanism must be different as in the conventionally intercalated samples calcium is preferentially exchanged, instead in the microwave irradiated samples sodium is preferred.