RAW OIL OR FAT FOR PRODUCTION OF HIGHER FATTY ACID ALKYL ESTER, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF HIGHER FATTY ACID ALKYL ESTER

摘要

Disclosed is a process for producing a higher fatty acid alkyl ester by carrying out the transesterification of a glyceride of an oil or fat with a monovalent lower aliphatic alcohol for the purpose of producing a light oil alternative fuel that can be used as a fuel for a diesel engine or the like, wherein particularly a free fatty acid contained in the oil or fat can be removed effectively. The process is characterized in that, prior to the transesterification reaction of a raw oil or fat, the raw oil or fat is treated with a monovalent lower aliphatic alcohol using an alkali metal hydrogen sulfate as a catalyst to esterify a free fatty acid contained in the raw oil or fat and subsequently the raw oil or fat is subjected to the transesterification reaction.