International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 16 3 2026 10 18 Synthesis and characterization of biodiesel from mango kernel oil via transesterification using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) 1 12 EN Mohammed Jibrin 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria Aremu Matthew Olaleke 2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria Usman Abdullahi 3 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria > Research Paper 2026 1 6 2026 10 18 Biodiesel production through transesterification is influenced by several operational factors, including feedstock type, catalyst concentration, methanol-to-oil ratio, reaction temperature, mixing intensity, and reaction time, which often limit its large-scale application. This study applied Central Composite Design (CCD) under Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize these variables for biodiesel production from mango seed kernel oil. The oil was extracted and characterized using standard procedures, and transesterification was performed according to CCD-generated conditions. The highest biodiesel yield of 91.94% was achieved at a methanol-to-oil ratio of 9:1, catalyst loading of 3 wt%, temperature of 55°C, and reaction time of 60 min, demonstrating efficient conversion. Statistical analysis showed that all parameters significantly influenced yield (p < 0.0001). The strong agreement between experimental and predicted results, supported by high R² (0.9948), adjusted R²(0.9900), and predicted R²(0.9702) values, confirmed the model’s reliability for yield prediction. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the oil is a suitable biodiesel feedstock; however, minimal pretreatment, such as drying or antioxidant addition, may improve its stability. The resulting biodiesel displayed promising properties but is best applied in blends with petroleum diesel or higher-quality biodiesel to enhance fuel performance. Copyright@ International Science Community Association