Selective transesterification of triolein (trioleoyl glycerol) with methanol to methyl oleate and glycerol could be achieved at around 333 K using alumina loaded with alkali metal salt as a solid-base catalyst. The catalytic activities are shown to be relatively insensitive to the presence of water. A K2CO3-loaded alumina catalyst prepared by evacuation at 823 K gives methyl oleate and glycerol in the highest yields of 94 and 89%, respectively, at 333 K in 1 h. This catalyst also effectively catalyzes the glycerolysis of triolein with glycerol to give dioleoyl glycerol in 71% yield at 453 K in 5 h. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.