Ca/Zr mixed oxide catalysts were prepared using three different methods and were employed in the transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol for biodiesel production. To elucidate their composition, morphology and basic properties, the resulting materials were characterized using: thermogravimetric analysis, N-2-adsorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, temperature programmed desorption of CO2 and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A birch template method was found to improve the pore structure and dispersion of basic sites. The highest biodiesel yield reached 92.6% over CaO/ZrO2 catalyst prepared by template method with a Ca-to-Zr molar ratio of 0.3 under the optimal reaction conditions: catalyst mass fraction 8%, 72:1 M ratio of methanol to rapeseed oil, reaction temperature 120 degrees C and a reaction time of 6 h. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.