摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for carrying out the removal of an unreacted alcohol with good productivity without raising the acid value of the finally obtained ester. SOLUTION: The distilling off of the unreacted alcohol is carried out by feeding liquid water into a reactional product liquid while maintaining the interior of a reactional apparatus under boiling conditions of water in the method for producing the ester by charging an organic acid and the alcohol in an excessive amount based on the organic acid into the reactional apparatus, evaporating the water formed as a by-product together with the alcohol, condensing the resultant vapor outside the reactional apparatus, separating the obtained condensate into the aqueous phase and the alcohol phase, carrying out a reaction while refluxing the alcohol phase to the reactional apparatus and then distilling off the unreacted alcohol under a reduced pressure. |