New and efficient solid-acid catalysts were designed and prepared by the coprecipitation-impregnation method, for the esterification of acetic acid and butanol synthesizing the butylacetate ester in fine chemical industry, in which the conventional catalyst was sulfuric acid. This work resulted in a cleaner process for acid-catalyzed reaction. The preparation parameters in the precipitation step and in the calcination were improved for a better performance. With the optimized new solid-acid catalyst, a good ester yield of 93.3% was achieved with the selectivity of 96.0%. The samples were characterized by XRD, N-2-adsorption and TGA measurements, the SO42- anion was essential in the active structure. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.