The evaluation of various kinetic models for base-catalyzed ethanolysis of palm oil

► Palm oil ethanolysis yielded 97.5 ± 0.5% ethyl esters at 25-55 °C. ► Temperature of the ethanolysis is inversely proportional to the reaction time. ► Palm oil ethanolysis below 45 °C conforms to irreversible second order kinetic model. ► Reaction at 55 °C conforms to both pseudo first and irreversible second kinetic orders. ► The rate constants, 0.018-0.088 dm3/mol min and Ea, 42.36 kJ/mol were obtained.