In this work, kaolin waste, MCM-41, MCM-48, and SBA-15 were impregnated with H3PW12O40 (HPW). The obtained solid acid catalysts were characterized by various techniques, such as XRF, XRD, FTIR and N2 adsorption. The surface acidities were measured by acid-base titration of KOH. The catalytic activities of the catalysts in the esterification reaction of a waste produced during the deodorization processes of palm oil (DDPO) were studied. The results revealed that the materials have great potential in promoting heterogeneous acid-catalyzed organic transformations. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.