Keggin heteropolyacids were immobilized on functionalized silica as their onium (gamma-propyl-N-pyridinium. gamma-propyl-N-methyl and gamma-propyl-N-butyl-imidazolium) salts. Interaction between HPA and the surface-grafted onium cations affords acid salts. In contrast to bare silica, impregnated with HPA, these materials have monoanionic dispersions of HPA on the surface and superior resistance to HPA leaching in polar media. The greatest stability of the Keggin structure and resistance to leaching were found for H4SiW12O40-(SiW)-, and the lowest for H3PMo12O40-(PMo)-based samples. In the two model reactions tested, the liquid-phase synthesis of ETBE and the esterification of AcOH with EtOH, these solids display good catalytic performance (activity per anion, up to 150 and 25 h(-1), respectively) and relative high structural stability. Catalysts having a greater coverage of organic functions (revealed by comparing two pyridinium salts) and hydrophobic cations (by comparing two imidazolium salts) have the best performance. Amongst the heteropolyacids studied, H4SiW12O40 is the most active and promising for catalyst design. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.