Abstract: Four La-containing sulfated Zr-pillared clay solid acids with rectorites as matrix were prepared by utilizing different methods for La introduction and characterized by nitrogen
adsorption/desorption, XRD, NH3-TPD and Py-IR techniques.The effects of different introduction methods for La on the structure and acidity of the
resulting catalysts were investigated. The experimental results show that regularity for the layer structure of formed catalysts is significantly
improved by either exchanging Na-rectorite with LaCl3 solution followed by pillaring with Zr pillaring agent or by utilizing La-Zr bipillaring agent.
In addition, the employment of these two preparation methods leads to a more uniform pore size distribution, a larger specific surface area and an
improvement in the amount and intensity of Lewis acid.

Key words: pillared rectorite, solid acid catalysts, La, structure