Polymeric supports based on divinylbenzene (DVB) were prepared by aqueous suspension polymerization in presence or absence of styrene (S), using toluene and n-heptane as diluents of the monomers. Poly(S-DVB) and poly(DVB) were sultonated with sulfuric acid in presence of 1,2-dichloroethane. The influence of the morphological structure of the supports and as a consequence of the catalyst on the esterification reaction of acetic acid with n-butanol was evaluated. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.