Simplified preparation of hydrotalcite-type clays

A process for preparing a hydrotalcite clay comprising adding a solution containing one or more divalent metal ion selected from the group consisting of Mg.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+, and Fe.sup.2+ and one or more trivalent metal ion selected from the group consisting of Al.sup.3+, Fe.sup.3+, Co.sup.3+, Mn.sup.3+ and Cr.sup.3+ to an essentially carbonate-free solution, the pH of said solution selectively chosen between about 6 and 14, containing an intercalating agent to form a mixture, and thereafter recovering a material of formula M.sup.2+.sub.2x M.sup.3+.sub.2 (OH).sub.4x+4 A.sup.n..sub.2/n.ZH.sub.2 O therefrom, wherein x runs between 1.5 and 5, n runs between 1 and 8, A is one or more anions obtained from said intercalating agent and being selected from pH-dependent, essentially carbonate-free inorganic anions, and Z runs between 0 and about 4, said hydrotalcite clay having a x-ray diffraction d(001) value of greater than about 7.7 Angstroms.