Upon reaching the predefined time of reaction, the reactor was
taken out of the heating mantle and the products of the reaction
were shifted to a 500 ml separating conical funnel. After 24 h of
settling, the heavy glycerol layer settled at the bottom of the funnel
was removed through a drainage valve. The remaining crude biodiesel produced from MZO was gently washed with distilled water
at 40 C in order to remove the unreacted methanol, catalysts and
impurities. The percentage yield of biodiesel has been calculated
using the formula