Continuous process for the production of lower alkyl esters

摘要

The invention relates to a continuous process for the production of lower alkyl esters at temperatures of up to 100 DEG C. and under pressures of up to 10 bar by reaction of fatty acid triglycerides containing less than 1% free fatty acid with a lower alcohol in two stages in the presence of a homogeneous alkaline catalyst, the glycerol formed being removed after the first stage. To enable the process to be carried out with high yields and with lower maintenance, investment and energy costs than in the prior art, the reaction mixture is passed through a reactor and a following static separator only once in each stage, tube reactors are used as the reactors and the Reynolds number of the flow of the reaction mixture is greater than 2,300.