The solid acid SO

4

2-

/TiO

2

was prepared by immersion method and applied for synthesis of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PMA) through esterification reaction of propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PM) and acetic acid (HAc). The optimal catalyst preparation condition was determined by orthogonal analysis of parameters in a five-factor and four-level test. The obtained solid acid catalysts were characterized in detail by means of X-ray powder diffraction

thermogravimetry

pyridine adsorbed IR analysis

scanning electron microscopy

and BET surface area method. Synthesis of PMA was studied in this paper through experimental investigation of reaction conditions such as temperature

molar ratio of reactants

catalyst dosage and agitation speed. Based on its possible reaction mechanism

a pseudo-homogeneous kinetic model was established and its activation energies

E

a

+

and

E

a

-

65.68×10

3

J·mol

-1

and 57.78×10

3

J·mol

-1

were estimated. To prepare shaped solid acid cat

alyst SO

4

2-

/TiO

2

the shaping method of impregnation-shaping-impregnation was applied. The optimal molding formulation of solid acid catalyst

obtained from the orthogonal test

was found to be binder 7 wt%

reinforcing agent 20 wt%

pore forming material 2.5 wt%

and lubricant 4 wt%. The results of performance test of catalyst demonstrated that the shaped solid acid catalyst exhibited high activity and stability.