5-Na/ZnO loaded SBA-15 has been prepared by one-pot method in atmospheric conditions (without employing hydrothermal treatment) and following wet impregnation method. The prepared catalyst was characterised by using several techniques viz., BET method for determination of surface area, FE-SEM for morphology of catalyst, XPS study to determine the oxidation state of constituent elements. The catalyst was utilised for transesterification from virgin cotton seed oil and the catalyst activity was dependant on its basic strength. Under optimal reaction conditions of catalyst amount 12 wt%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 24:1 at reaction temperature of 65 degrees C, the prepared catalyst yielded > 98% fatty acid methyl ester in 4 h of reaction duration. The catalyst was able to yield conversion level as good as similar to 74% even in 5th cycle after regeneration. Leaching of <5 ppm metal content was observed, in 4th and 5th cycle, which was within the ASTM specified limitations. The thermodynamic parameters for the reaction, viz., activation energy E-a, Delta H-double dagger, Delta S-double dagger, Delta G(double dagger) were calculated as 77.3 kJ mol(-1), 74.2 kJ mol(-1),-0.064 kJ mol(-1) and, + 93.2 kJ mol(-)(1) respectively. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.