Process for producing lower alkyl fatty esters

摘要

The present invention provides a process for producing lower alkyl fatty esters from fatty acids and lower alcohols, wherein lower alkyl fatty esters are produced in higher yield with a reduction in the amount of the remaining fatty acids. The process of the present invention comprises bringing fatty acids into contact with gaseous lower alcohols in fixed bed(s) charged with a weakly acidic solid catalyst by countercurrent operation, by co-current operation and subsequent countercurrent operation or by pseudo-countercurrent operation, thus feeding and reacting the fatty acids and lower alcohols in fixed-bed reactor(s) charged with a weakly acidic solid catalyst to produce lower alkyl fatty esters.