Porous material composed of layered silica and metal oxide and a process for manufacturing the same

A process for manufacturing a porous material which consists essentially of:

• (a) introducing an organic substance having a molecular size of at least 10 .ANG. by ion exchange into an interlayer space of crystals of layered silicates, and forming interlayer bridges of essentially SiO.sub.2 in said interlayer space between adjacent layers of said layered silicates by condensation of surface silanols of said adjacent layers, said adjacent layers having bent portions partially bonded to each other by said interlayer bridges of SiO.sub.2 thereby forming a honeycomb cross-section, wherein said organic substance is cetyltrimethylammonium, undecyltrimethylammonium or nonyltrimethylammonium, said layered silicates having bent portions partially bonded to each other by said interlayer bridges of SiO.sub.2, thereby forming a non-pillared honeycomb cross-section;
• (b) bringing said crystals into contact with a metal cation;
• and
• (c) firing said crystals at a temperature sufficient for removal of said organic substance;
• the steps being carried out in the order of either (a) then (b) then (c);
• (b) then (a) then (c);
• (a) and (b) together, then (c);
• or (a) then (c) then (b) and then (c) again, the steps (a), (b) and (c) performed under conditions so that said porous material formed has a multiplicity of pores with a diameter of at least 10 .ANG., and said pores having a substantially uniform diameter, and said porous material formed possessing properties of a solid acid from said contact with said metal cations.