0.25% (w/w) of K2CO3 calculated based on the total weight of the oil is dissolved in 0.21 mol of methanol
(molecular weight = 32 g/mol; 6.72 g) in a 100 mL three-neck flask which is equipped with a thermometer and a
condenser. 0.1 mol of neutral coconut oil (molecular weight = 638 g/mol; 63.8 g) was added into the mixture and
then heated at 55°C for 3 h. The mixture is slowly cooled and left overnight in a separating funnel. The productis
removed from the separating funnel, dissolved in n-hexane and washed with hot distilled water until reaching a
neutral pH. The final product obtained is then dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and is further characterized using
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).