Inorganic Ion Exchangers, Past, Present, and Future

The search for inorganic ion exchangers that would be stable to ionizing radiation and elevated temperatures began with the advent of nuclear technology in the 1940's. Research has continued unabated since then producing many dozens of such compounds both synthetic and natural. Several of the important groups of these exchangers are described and their utility as highly selective sorbents described. A brief introduction to inorganic-organic products is presented with the emphasis that they permit the design of new types of exchangers. Many current and projected applications of these materials are described.