The catalytic synthesis of non-toxic/eco-friendly tributyl citrate (TBC) plasticizer by esterification of renewable citric acid (CA) with butanol would be completely sustainable route. In this context, catalytic performance of parent ultra stable Y (USY) and phosphonated USY catalysts were investigated for TBC synthesis. Parent USY and phosphonated USY catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption, NH3 temperature programmed desorption (TPD), pyridine-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), FTIR, SEM, ICP. The influence of various process parameters such as phosphorous (P) loading (0 to 4 wt/%), catalyst loading (5-25%), molar ratio of CA to n-butanol (1:4 to 1:12), reaction temperature (383-423 K) and reaction time (1-5 h) have been investigated over USY catalyst with aim to maximize CA conversion and TBC yield. Amongst the studied catalysts, the 2% (w/w) P/USY was found to be highly potential catalyst with complete CA conversion (100%) and 93% TBC yield. The present method of using 2% (w/w) P/USY catalyst for the synthesis of TBC would be environmentally benign in the context of bio-renewable synthetic route, high catalytic activity, non-toxic product, long term stability and reusability of catalyst (five catalytic cycles). (c) 2015 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,