The kinetic study on the hydrolysis reaction of bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) catalyzed by Tb-BDBPH system(2:1) was carried out in 50% ethanol solution (pH 7.0-10.0) at 35 degrees C with 1=0.10NaNO(3). The second-order rate constant k(BNPP), 2.3x 10(-3) (mol(-1)L S-1), was determined. The dinuclear monohydroxo species, L-2Tb-OH, is kinetically mainly active species. The hydrolysis rate of BNPP by the complex is increased almost 2.6 million-fold compared with the background hydroxide rate at the same condition.