Griffithite, a high Fe content saponite (Griffith Park, California) was pillared with Al polymeric solutions, using different Al/clay ratios. The cation exchange began when Al-polycation solutions were added, being completed during the dialysis of the samples. Pillared solids were obtained by calcination of intercalated precursors at 500 °C. The content of A12O3 increased from 7.35% in the natural griffithite to about 14% in the pillared samples, equivalent to the fixation of about 1.4 mmol Al per g of clay. The surface areas of the pillared griffithite were between 230–300 m2 g-1. The intercalation and pillaring of griffithite were easier than that of a less-crystalline nonferrous saponite.
