This patent describes economical and environment-friendly processes for the synthesis of anionic clays. It involves reacting a slurry comprising boehmite, which has been peptized with acid with a divalent metal source followed by addition of source of base. The slurry is then hydrothermally aged. There is no necessity to wash or filter the product and it can be spray dried directly to form microspheres, or can be extruded to form shaped bodies. The product can be combined with other ingredients in the manufacture of catalysts, absorbents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, polymeric nanocomposites and other commodity products that contain anionic clays.