Sulfonated carbon–palygorskite (SC–PAL) composite catalyst was successfully prepared via carbonization of
sucrose on PAL supports followed by sulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid. The featured structure of PAL
was maintained in the SC–PAL composite catalyst after carbonization and sulfonation. The SC–PAL composite
catalysts had high BET surface area and exhibited high catalytic properties to the esterification reaction of acetic
acid and n-butyl alcohol. And the catalytic properties were adjustable by changing the added sucrose amount.
The best yield of n-butyl acetate appeared at SC–PAL-5 composite catalyst (1 g sucrose/g PAL) and was higher
than 80% after reaction at 120 °C for 4 h