Synthetic mineral microparticles and retention aid and water treatment systems and methods using such particles

A method for treating water comprising the steps of

• (1) precipitating a microparticle product by the admixing of a soluble meal salt selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, zirconium, yttrium, lanthanum and cerium and one or more compounds having a component selected from the group consisting of silicates, phosphates and borates wherein said product is represented by an empirical formula selected from the group consisting of
• M(I)wAlxSiyPzO(0.5w+1.5x+2y+2.5z);
• M(I)wAlxSiyBzO(0.5w+1.5x+2y+1.5z);
• M(I)wM(II)xAlySixO(0.5w+x+1.5y+2z);
• M(I)wM(III)xAlySizO(0.5w+0.5ax+1.5y+2z);
• M(I)wM(IV)xAlySizO(0.5w+1.5x+1.5y+2z);
• wherein M(I) is hydrogen, lithium, sodium or potassium;
• Al is aluminum;
• Si is silicon;
• P is phosphorus;
• O is oxygen;
• B is boron;
• M(II) is magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium;
• M(III) is a transition metal of the first, second or third series or the actinides;
• M(IV) is a metal of the lanthanide series;
• a is the valency value of the M(III) metal;
• w is a value to balance the election charge created by the values of x, y and z;
• and x, y, and z are each independently a value from about 0.1 to about 10.0;
• and
• (2) admixing the microparticle product and water comprising a polymer to produce water comprising floccule.