Thus the present invention relates to the synthesis of layered double hydroxide compositions, more specifically hydrotalcite-like and hydrocalumite-like materials of formula, [M1-x II Mx III (OH)2 ](An-)x/n.pH2 O wherein MII is one or more divalent metal ions and MIII is one or more trivalent metal ions, A is an anion of charge n-, and x is between 0.8 and 0.12, which are suitable for the absorpti