A series of Mg-Al hydrotalcites (HTCs) calcined at different temperatures were evaluated for their suitability as solid base catalysts for the selective synthesis of trimethylolpropane triesters (TMPTEs) via transesterification of trimethylolpropane (TMP) with a mixture of C-8-C-10 fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). The effect of potassium fluoride (KF) loading of the calcined HTCs on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of the materials attained was ascertained. Using a 5wt% catalyst loading and a FAME:TMP molar ratio of 3.5:1 at 170 degrees C for 8h, the Mg-Al mixed oxide obtained by calcining HTC at 500 degrees C (HTC-500) gave the highest TMPTE selectivity and FAME conversion. Impregnating HTC-500 with 10wt% KF (KF/HTC-500) generated strongly basic KMgF3, KOH, K2O, and coordinatively unsaturated F- sites. The FAME conversion and TMPTE yield obtained over different HTC and KF/HTC-500 catalysts depended on their total basicity, where a basic strength of 15

Keywords:Basicity;Fatty acid methyl esters;KF loading;Mg-Al hydrotalcite;Transesterification;Trimethylolpropane