The use of clay minerals as catalysts offers several advantages: 1. Abundance and Low Cost: Clay minerals are naturally abundant and inexpensive, making them an economically viable option for industrial applications. 2. Environmental Friendliness: As naturally occurring materials, clay catalysts are often more environmentally benign compared to traditional metal-based catalysts. 3. Tunability: The properties of clay catalysts can be modified through chemical treatments, such as acid activation or pillaring, to improve their catalytic performance.