The esterification of myristic acid with methanol in presence of triglycerides using sulfated zirconia prepared by solvent-free method as the heterogeneous catalyst was studied. The effects of reaction temperature (393-443 K), catalyst loading (1-3 %wt) and molar ratio of oil to methanol (1:4-1:20) on the conversion of myristic acid were investigated. The experimental data was interpreted with a second order pseudo-homogeneous kinetic model. The kinetic parameters were obtained. A good agreement between the experimental data and the model was observed. Sulfated zirconia prepared by solvent-free method exhibited high catalytic activity for this reaction. Low activation energy of 22.51 kJ mol(-1) was obtained in the range of temperature of 393-443 K. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.