The effect of a "guest-host" interaction on the phase composition and sorption properties of the composite sorbents "salt in a porous host matrix" has been studied. The matrix was a mesoporous silica of KSK type, while the confined salts were CaCl2, CuSO4, MgSO4, and Na2SO4. Both structure and properties of the composites were studied by X-ray diffraction, titration in the pH range of 2-9, differential dissolution, and TG techniques. Chemical interaction between the silica surface and the salt during preparation results in the formation of the salt surface complexes and stabilization of the dispersed salt in two phases, namely, a crystalline phase and an X-ray amorphous phase. The water sorption properties of the composites depend on the phase composition and can be intently modified by using variation of the preparation conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reerved.