Method for producing fatty acid alcohol ester

摘要

There is provided a method for producing fatty acid alcohol ester useful as a substitute fuel for light oil in which an ester interchange reaction between fats or oils and alcohol is carried out in a reactor 1 by applying ultrasonic irradiation at a frequency of 15 to 100 kHz and irradiation intensity of 0.5 to 20 W/cm² in the presence of a catalyst, followed by an application of ultrasonic irradiation at a frequency of 200 to 3,000 kHz and irradiation intensity of 0.5 to 20 W/cm² to the reaction product in a separation tank 4 to separate fatty acid alcohol ester and glycerol. Such ultrasonic irradiation in the separation tank 4 may be applied to an interface between fatty acid alcohol ester and glycerol.