TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The introducing of the base, neutral, and acid precipitants involves introducing the base precipitant to the solution comprising the first metal ion and the second metal ion to form a first precipitant solution; introducing the neutral precipitant to the first precipitant solution to form a second precipitant solution; and introducing the acid precipitant to the second precipitant solution to form the precipitate. The base precipitant comprises an ammonia solution. The acid precipitant comprises carbon dioxide, and is introduced at the boiling temperature of the solution. The pH of the solution is maintained at 9 by the base precipitant. The calcining is carried out at 780 degrees C. The first metal ion is a calcium ion, and the second metal ion is a lanthanum ion. The preparation of the catalyst (C') involves introducing an ammonia solution to a solution comprising calcium and lanthanum ions to form an ammonia metal ion solution; heating the ammonia metal ion solution to boiling; introducing ethanol to the boiling ammonia metal ion solution to form an ammonia ethanol solution; introducing carbon dioxide to the ammonia ethanol solution to form a precipitate; and calcining the precipitate to form the catalyst. Preferred Catalyst: The heterogeneous catalyst (C1a) has specific surface area of 62.6 m2/g and a total basicity of 13.6 mmol/g; the calcium hydroxide and lanthanum hydroxide comprise segregated calcium hydroxide and lanthanum hydroxide crystals, respectively; the molar ratio of calcium to lanthanum is (100:1 to 1:100, preferably 9:1 to 1:3, especially 3:1); and the catalyst further comprises calcium oxide and lanthanum oxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The alcohol in the production of biofuel is methanol. The feed material is non-refined oil selected from crude oils, waste cooking oil, and/or rendered animal fats. The feed material further comprises water (more than 0.15 wt.%); and at least one free fatty acid (more than 0.5 wt.%), such that at least some of the free fatty acid(s) in the feed material are converted into the corresponding alcoholic esters of free fatty acid(s). The neutral precipitant comprises an alcohol (preferably ethanol). Preferred Process: The process for producing a biofuel further involves activating the catalyst in nitrogen before contacting. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.