Abstract A comparison of the synthesis of wax esters by transesterification of jatropha oil and oleyl alcohol using the immobilized lipase EQ3 ( Burkholderia sp. EQ3) and Lipozyme RM IM ( Rhizomucor miehei ) was carried out. The predominant fatty acids in jatropha oil were palmitic acid (14%), stearic acid (7%), oleic acid (41%) and linoleic acid (35%). The optimum conditions for the synthesis of wax esters by the immobilized lipase EQ3 were 10 U of enzyme, a molar ratio of jatropha oil and oleyl alcohol of 1:4 in isooctane at 30 °C for 12 h to achieve an 89% conversion. The optimum conditions for wax ester synthesis by the Lipozyme RM IM were 10 U of enzyme, a molar ratio of jatropha oil and oleyl alcohol of 1:3 in hexane at 45 °C for 12 h to achieve an 86% conversion. For the reusability test, the immobilized lipase EQ3 provided a higher percentage of wax esters (88%) than the Lipozyme RM IM (24%) at the 5 th batch. The wax ester composition of the jatropha oil was oleyl palmitate (18%), oleyl stearate (10%), oleyl oleate and oleyl linoleate (67%). The wax esters had melting points of −14.83, 8.50 and 13.17 °C, and were completely decomposed at 380 °C.