The effects of time and temperature on the alcoholysis of rubber seed, melon seed, linseed, and soyabean oils have been studied. The following temperatures were investigated: 200, 220, 245, and 260°C. Litharge (PbO) was used as the alcoholysis catalyst. The optimum alcoholysis temperature was found to be 245 ± 2 °C for each of the oils. At lower alcoholysis temperatures (<245°C), there is the preferential alcoholysis of seed oils derived from unsaturated acid; and the general alcoholysis rates were found to be in the following order: linseed oil ≈ rubber seed oil ≥ soyabean oil ≈ melon seed oil. The alcohol‐solubility of the oils is generally observed to begin at 42–45% conversion of oils to monoglycerides. The α‐monoglyceride contents of the alcoholysis mixtures of rubber seed and linseed oils were generally similar at methanol tolerance, and higher than those of melon seed and soyabean oils. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1826–1832, 2000