Binary composites on basis of M-Al-O (M = Sr, Ba), M-Mg-O (M = Y, La), M-La-O (M = Sr, Ba) prepared by precipitation and calcined at 700-1200 degrees C were characterized by thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed probe molecule CDCl3 (FTIR), low temperature nitrogen adsorption and heat desorption of argon and their catalytic activity towards the transesterification reaction of rapeseed oil was studied in the flow fixed bed reactor at 200 degrees C and 20 atm. The phase composition, texture and surface composition of the catalysts are determined by their chemical nature and calcination temperature. The performance of the catalysts calcined at 700-750 degrees C diminishes in the order of Sr-La-O > Ba-La-O > La-Mg-O >= Y-Mg-O > Ba-Al-O-700 > Sr-Al-O-700 and is in a straight correlation with the integrated intensity of absorption of surface carbonate species representing the amount of the strong basic sites on the surface of the catalysts. Thermal treatment of M-Al-O (M = Sr, Ba) catalysts at 1200 degrees C exerts minor influence on their performance. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.