A statistical strategy in experimental design is devised to predict the optimal conditions in esterification of palmitic acid with excess methanol over a solid acid catalyst, viz. Amberlite (TM) IR-120 (H) resin, at a temperature less than the boiling point of methanol. Combining the experimental data and the backward stepwise regression technique with a 2(5-1) fractional factorial design, the optimal condition is determined from the path of the steepest ascent and found as follows: (1) 8:1 in the molar feed ratio of methanol to palmitic acid, (2) 61.0 degrees C set as reaction temperature, (3) 10.5 h for reaction time, (4) catalyst loading at 10 wt.% of palmitic acid, and (5) a stirring speed at 600 rpm. Under this optimal condition, the conversion efficiency of palmitic add to methyl palmitate could reach as high as 98.3 +/- 0.4%. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.