Maryam Razavi Mehr - Department of Chemistry, Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, boroujerd, Iran
Hossein Rouhbakhsh - Department of Chemistry, Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Boroujerd, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Fekri - Department of Chemistry, Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Boroujerd, Iran
Javad Torkashvand - Department of Chemistry, Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Boroujerd, Iran

The esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) mostly found in vegetable oils with ethanol using solid acid catalyst is one of promisingmethod to convert FFA into Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester (FAEE) that is an alternative to replace fossil fuel as energy source mostly intransportation sector. The present study aimed to determine the optimum or best operating condition for the production of FAEE byesterification of oleic acid and ethanol with a new magnetic activated carbon nanocatalyst (Fe۳O۴ /AC) as solid acid catalyst.The novel catalyst was characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA and BET. The scope of study, the achieving optimum operatingcondition of oleic acid esterification at ۵۰-۸۰°C, ۰.۵-۱.۵ g Fe۳O۴ /AC solid catalyst and ۵:۱, ۱۰:۱, ۱۵/۱ ethanol to oleic acid molarratio that brings maximum% oleic acid conversion.

Biodiesel, Magnetic activated carbon, Esterification of oleic acid