| Summary: | This study focused on the synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from Chrysophyllum albidium seed oil (CASO) via transesterification process using alkaline modified anthill as heterogeneous catalyst. The prepared catalyst was characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, basicity, scanning electron microscopic-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the reusability of the catalyst was tested to check its stability. Central composite design (CCD) was used for optimization of transesterification of CASO with methanol. The variables considered were the reaction temperature (50–80 °C), catalyst loading (2–4 wt%) and methanol/CASO molar ratio (6:1–10:1). Predicted values of FAME yield were found to be in agreement with the observed values obtained (R2 = 0.9650 and Adj-R2 = 0.9335). The results of optimization studies revealed that maximum FAME yield was obtained at the optimum conditions of 64.82 °C reaction temperature, 3 wt% catalyst loading and 8:1 methanol/CASO molar ratio during reaction time of 2 h. The catalyst lost its activity after three reaction cycles. Keywords: Anthill, Catalyst, Chrysophyllum albidium seed oil, Heterogeneous reaction, Transesterification
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