Exploration of non-edible oil as a feedstock and the use of new heterogeneous nanocatalyst could contribute to bioenergy research. In this regard, the present work is focussed on the use of cobalt doped zinc oxide nanocatalyst for production of biodiesel from Mesua ferrea oil. The synthesized catalyst has been analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Under optimal reaction condition, maximum biodiesel conversion of 98.03% was obtained in 3 hat 60 degrees C with 2.5 wt% catalyst loading and 1:9 oil to methanol molar ratio. The produced biodiesel has been characterized using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H-1 NMR), Carbon Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (C-13 NMR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) techniques. Fuel properties of the produced biodiesel have also been determined. The result showed good catalytic activity of cobalt doped Zinc oxide nanocatalyst and could be used for large scale biodiesel production from Mesua ferrea oil by further enhancing its stability. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.