The solid oxide catalysts derived from the industrial waste shells of egg, golden apple snail, and meretrix venus were used as biodiesel production catalysts. Their catalytic activity in transesterification of palm olein oils and their physicochemical properties (by TG/DTA, EDX, SEM, N(2) sorption, CO(2)-TPD, and XRD) were systematically investigated. The waste materials calcined in air with optimum conditions (temperature of 800 degrees C, time of 2-4 h) transformed calcium species in the shells into active CaO catalysts. The activity of the catalysts was in line with the basic amount of the strong base sites, surface area, and crystalline phase in the catalysts. All catalysts derived from egg and mollusk shells at 800 degrees C provided high activity (>90% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in 2 h). These abundant wastes showed good potential to be used as biodiesel production catalysts. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.