Low quality rice bran was used to produce fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) via in situ extraction, esterification
and transesterification process. The effects of the acid and alkaline catalysts on the ester yield,
esterification and transesterification process were studied. When 75 ml of absolute methanol, 150 ml
of petroleum ether, 0.75 g of concentrated sulfuric acid and 0.71 g of sodium hydroxyl were used,
16.69% (wFAME/wrice bran) of FAME was obtained. The esterification rate and the transesterification rate
reached 98.83% and 80.47%. Based on the proposed route, the production process of FAME (biodiesel)
could be simplified and the production cost could be reduced.