Esterification of oleic acid with methanol was investigated using tungstophosphoric acid (H3PW12O40) immobilized on the 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (H2N(CH2)(3)Si(OC2H5)(3)) functionalized palygorskite. Among different loading catalysts, 15% (w/w) H3PW12O40 immobilized onto functionalized palygorskite showed stable and substantially high activity with about 90% oleic acid conversion. Immobilized catalysts were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and temperature programmed desorption of NH3 for their surface element compositions and chemical states, crystallization, and acid strength, respectively. Characterization results indicated that H3PW12O40 was chemically and uniformly dispersed on modified palygorskite