Abstract: The catalytic esterification activity of some bentonite samples treated with different methods were characterized.It was found that the catalytic activity of activited bentonite could be increased greatly by loading with rare earth. However,no evident increase of catalytic activity with the amount of loaded rare earth in bentonite was observed in high rare earth content range.These results showed that the surface acidity and rare earth accounted for the catalytic activity and the former factor played a more important role than the other in the catalytic esterification.

Key words: rare earth, bentonite, catalytic esterification