Process for preparing a substantially crystalline sodium aluminosilicate

A process for preparing a synthetic substantially crystalline sodium aluminosilicate of the molar composition xNa.sub.2 O.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.ySiO.sub.2.zH.sub.2 O, wherein x is a value of from about 0.8 to about 1.2, y is a value from about 1.7 to about 2.2, and z is a value from about 3.0 to about 10.0 which comprises the steps of:

• (a) thoroughly and rapidly mixing an aqueous sodium silicate solution and an aqueous sodium aluminate solution in such amounts that the content of the mixtue is equivalent to a molar ratio of x'Na.sub.2 O:1Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :ySiO.sub.2 :z'H.sub.2 O wherein x' is a value of from about 6.5 to about 9.0, y is a value of from about 1.7 to about 2.2, and z' is a value of from about 180 to about 250 within the minimum period of time which is sufficient to obtain a uniform mixture by simultaneously introducing said sodium silicate solution and said sodium aluminate solution at a constant ratio into a reaction zone under sufficiently intensive agitation to maintain a constant molar ratio of Na.sub.2 O/AL.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O throughout the reaction mixture whereby a reacton mixture containing an intermediate amorphous sodium aluminosilicate is formed;
• (b) maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of from about 70.degree. to about 100.degree. C. under sufficient agitation in order to continuously ensure the constant molar ratio Na.sub.2 O/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 /H.sub.2 O throughout the reaction mixture for a period of time of from about 1 to about 3 hours which is sufficient to transform the reaction mixture into a suspension of a substantially crystalline sodium aluminosilicate precipitate in a mother liquor;
• and
• (c) separating said substantially crystalline sodium aluminosilicate from the suspension.