The activity of catalysts was evaluated in terms of fatty acid methyl
ester (FAME) conversion during transesterification of palmoil. The reactionwas
performed in a 100mL flat-bottomed flask, equippedwith a reflux
condenser and a magnetic stirrer. The reactor which was heated to
65 °C while stirring at 800 rpm was initially filled with 30 g of palm oil,
varied amounts of catalyst and different volumes of anhydrous methanol.
All of the experiments were performed at atmospheric pressure.
After the transesterification reaction, the catalystwas removed from
the mixture by centrifugation. The filtrate was kept in the funnel separator
for 24 h. The upper layerwas subjected to rotary evaporation to remove
excessmethanol and the product obtainedwas dried over sodium
sulfate before gas chromatography analysis