A series of inorganic phosphate crystals have been hydrothermally synthesized, which have high chemical stability and can keep their crystal structure after acid/base treatments. Its cation-exchange properties have been investigated and the results show that it is an excellent ion exchanger with high exchange capacities for H(+), Li(+) and Pb(2+) ions (12.74, 6.98 and 3.92 mequiv./g, respectively). Selective extractions of Li(+) and Pb(2+) from the synthetic mixtures containing (Li(+), Sr(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Ba(2+)) and (Pb(2+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+) and Mg(2+)) and have been observed. The reasons of the high exchange selection of NATP for Li(+) and Pb(2+) ions have been discussed. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.