Classification and Systematics of Medical Clay

—The aim of the work is to develop classification and systematics of Medical Clays. Tasks: to conduct screening marketing study of the pharmaceutical market of medical clays in Russia and neighboring countries; to develop classification and systematics of Medical Clays with their characteristics. The materials are electronic resources eLIBRARY, Russian Drug Register, own research results also. The methods are analysis and classification. Results. Conducted a screening marketing study of the pharmaceutical market of Medical Clays. It was established that at present in Russia there is one pharmaceutical substance of Medical Clay “Smectite Dioctahedral”; 8 drugs based on Dioctahedral Smectite are registered: 3 of them are made on the basis of domestic substances, 1 - made in France, 1 - made in the USA, 2 - made in China. The classification and systematics of Medical Clays has been developed, according to which Medical Clays are represented by three groups that determine their sorption properties: Palygorskite, Smectite and Kaolinite Clays. The atomic structure of the main minerals of Medical Clays is composed of two units: octahedral and Silicon-Oxygen tetrahedral. Medical Clays consisting of Montmorillonite and Kaolinite minerals have two types of pores; the specific surface area is higher for clays consisting of Montmorillonite and Palygorskite minerals; the cation exchange capacity is higher for the Montmorillonite mineral. Conclusion. The classification and systematics of Medical Clays has been developed, according to which Medical Clays are represented by three groups that determine their sorption properties: Palygorskite, Smectite and Kaolinite Clays.