Barium hydroxoaluminate hydrates were precipitated from different sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions at 20 "C; CAI varied from 0.1 t o 0.5 M and initial Ba/Al, ratios (= excess OH/AI ratios) varied from 1 t o 7 . Precipitate compositions were determined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. The compound BaO . A1,0, . 7 H,O was precipitated at initial Ba/Al, ratios of one to well above two while the compound 2 BaO . A1,0, . 5 H,O was only precipitated over a narrow range of concentrations. The compound Ba(OH), . 8 H,O was precipitated from solutions of high hydroxide and barium ion concentrations. The ionic equilibria and precipitation mechanisms in different solutions are discussed.