PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LOWER ALCOHOL ESTER

摘要

A process for efficiently producing a fatty acid ester at a low cost in a system which is completely or almost completely free form any solvent. In the above process, a linear lower alcohol is reacted with lipase and a fat/oil while controlling the concentration of the linear lower alcohol to a level not exceeding the lipase inhibitory concentration of the linear lower alcohol, or a fatty acid ester is added to the reaction system and lipase and a fat/oil are reacted with a linear lower alcohol. By using a natural fat/oil (a vegetable fat/oil, an animal fat/oil, etc.) or a waste fat/oil thereof as the above-described fat/oil, the waste fat/oil to be discharged into the environment can be recycled and, at the same time, a bio-diesel fuel with little environmental pollution can be provided.