<p>The paper describes the preparation of bio-epoxides from methyl esters of higher fatty acids catalyzed by new heterogeneous catalysts containing titanium, which is convenient for epoxidation. The epoxides were prepared from methyl esters of waste cooking oils as a renewable raw material and can be applied as bio-lubricants, raw materials for bio-polymers, polycarbonates and coatings, etc. (which are made from crude oil nowadays). The synthesized titanium catalysts were compared with commercially produced catalyst. All catalysts were characterized by many methods such as the determination of metals (XRF and XPS), structure (XRD), mercury porosimetry, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The conversion of esters and selectivity to nonanal (by-product of the oxidative cleavage) was determined by a gas chromatograph. The novelty is also the scale-up of epoxidation by the most active synthesized catalyst with approximately 70% methyl ester conversion and 98% selectivity toward epoxides (only a small amount of nonanal was determined). Only a low titanium leaching from catalyst was detected. The production of epoxides will be cleaner and more environmentally friendly, because used waste oil and heterogeneous catalysis could be possibly applied in a flow reactor.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>