Mesoporous composite comprising anhydrous, amorphous magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, and methods of production thereof

1. A mesoporous composite carbonate material comprising:

X-ray amorphous and anhydrous magnesium carbonate; and

a second component,

wherein the second component is calcium carbonate,

wherein a maximum value in an incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurs for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less,

wherein the incremental pore volume distribution is measured by nitrogen sorption,

wherein the mesoporous composite carbon material with pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less has a cumulative pore volume distribution of at least 0.2 cm 3 /g, and

wherein the cumulative pore volume distribution is measured by nitrogen sorption.

2. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 , wherein the mesoporous composite carbonate material is characterized by a BET specific surface area obtained from N 2 sorption isotherms of between 60 m 2 /g and 1500 m 2 /g.

3. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 2 , wherein the BET specific surface area is between 100 m 2 /g and 1500 m 2 /g.

4. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 3 , wherein the BET specific surface area is between 240 m 2 /g and 1500 m 2 /g.

5. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 4 , wherein the BET specific surface area is between 500 m 2 /g and 1500 m 2 /g.

6. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum value in the incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurring for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less is 0.2 cm 3 /g.

7. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum value in the incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurring for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less is from 0.04 to 0.16 cm 3 /g.

8. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 , wherein the cumulative pore volume distribution is at least 0.5 cm 3 /g.

9. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 , including up to 50 wt % calcium carbonate.

10. A desiccant comprising the mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 .

11. A pellet or a film comprising the mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 .

12. An additive to a food, a chemical, a cosmetic or a pharmaceutical comprising the mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 .

13. An excipient in a cosmetic or a pharmaceutical comprising the mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 1 .

14. A mesoporous composite carbonate material comprising:

calcium carbonate; and

X-ray amorphous and anhydrous magnesium carbonate,

wherein a maximum value in an incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurs for pores with a diameter between 2 and 10 nm, the incremental pore volume distribution measured by nitrogen sorption, and

wherein the mesoporous composite material has a cumulative pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g that has a minimum value for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less of 0.2 cm 3 /g, the cumulative pore volume distribution measured by nitrogen sorption.

15. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 14 , wherein the maximum value in the incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurring for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less is 0.2 cm 3 /g.

16. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 14 , wherein the maximum value in the incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurring for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less is from 0.04 to 0.16 cm 3 /g.

17. The mesoporous composite carbonate material according to claim 14 , wherein the minimum value for cumulative pore volume distribution is at least 0.5 cm 3 /g.

18. A method to produce a mesoporous composite carbonate material, the method comprising the steps of:

preparing a powder phase comprising MgO and a second component, wherein the second component is Ca(OH) 2 or CaO,and wherein an amount of the second component is from >0 to 50 wt %; and

reacting MgO and the second component with alcohol in a CO 2 atmosphere at a pressure above atmospheric pressure and a temperature between 40° C. and a boiling temperature of the alcohol,

wherein the produced mesoporous composite carbonate material comprises X-ray amorphous and anhydrous magnesium carbonate and the second component, and

wherein a maximum value in an incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the produced mesoporous composite material occurs for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less, the incremental pore volume distribution measured by nitrogen sorption, and

wherein the produced mesoporous composite material has a cumulative pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g that has a minimum value for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less of 0.2 cm 3 /g, the cumulative pore volume distribution measured by nitrogen sorption.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the maximum value in the incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurring for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less is 0.2 cm 3 /g.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the maximum value in the incremental pore volume distribution in cm 3 /g of the mesoporous composite material occurring for pores with a diameter of 10 nm or less is from 0.04 to 0.16 cm 3 /g.

21. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the minimum value for cumulative pore volume distribution is at least 0.5 cm 3 /g.