In this paper, we have synthesized cobalt aluminate (CoAl2O4), nanopowders as blue pigments by the combustion method, which metal nitrates were used as precursor materials and mixture of urea and glycine as fuel. The effect of beta-alanine weight percentage as a novel excess fuel on some physical characteristics (e.g. crystallite size and color) of powders has been investigated. The synthesized powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies. XRD patterns and FT-IR spectra confirmed the formation of pure nanocrystalline CoAl2O4 powders after calcination of the metal-fuel gel precursors at 600 degrees C for 2 h. Optical band gap of 2.3 eV observed for the prepared powders. The crystallite sizes were estimated of 20-30 nm by means of TEM images and Williamson-Hall method. UV-Vis spectra of the blue metal oxides were characteristics of Co2+ metal ions located in tetrahedral sites. CIE L*a*b* chromatic coordinates indicated that the bluest color was obtained for beta-alanine = 5.5 and 35.6 wt.%. (C) 2013 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.