Raman microspectroscopy of hydrotalcite-like compounds modified with sulphate and sulphonate organic anions

► Mg/Al HTlc with organic anions were obtained by calcination-rehydration method. ► Raman microspectroscopy was used by the first time to characterize organo-hybrid HTlcs. ► Raman microspectroscopy is a useful tool for distinguishing organo-hybrid HTlcs. Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) containing dodecylsulphate and dodecylbenzene-sulphonate organic anions in their interlayer region were synthesized by rehydrating the calcination product of a 3:1 magnesium–aluminium hydrotalcite intercalated with carbonate ions and characterized by Raman microspectroscopy. The Raman spectra for the samples with intercalated organic anions exhibited the typical bands for the hydrocarbon chains and the sulphate or sulphonate group. This is the first time HTlcs containing organic sulphate or sulphonate ions have been characterized by this technique and Raman spectroscopy proved an effective tool for discriminating between organo-hybrid HTlcs.