Calcium diglyceroxide synthesized by mechanochemical treatment, its characterization and application as catalyst for fatty acid methyl esters production

•Ca-diglyceroxide (CaDG) synthesis by mechanochemical treatment of CaO and glycerol.•Methanolysis of sunflower oil catalyzed by CaDG.•Physical interpretation of the role of the CaDG.•Analysis of different working conditions of methanolysis using kinetic model.