Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien

Bernard Schleper

Bernhard Gutsche

Lutz Jeromin

Eberhard Peukert

Gerhard Wollmann

Norbert Bremus

The invention is a process for the continuous liquid-phase esterification of C.sub.2 -C.sub.24 fatty acids with alkanols in countercurrent contact and reaction in a reaction column, the catalysts and fatty acids are introduced at the top plate and the alkanols below the lowest plate, at a head pressure of the reaction column of 200 to 900 hPa. The process reduces dehydration of the alkanols.

Process for the continuous esterification of fatty acids

A process for the continuous transesterification of C.sub.6 -C.sub.22 fatty acid lower alkyl esters, particularly methyl esters, with polyhydric C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alcohols, particularly glycerol, in a reaction column comprising a rectifying and reaction section, alkaline catalysts and polyhydric alcohol are introduced into the upper part of the reaction column and boiling fatty acid methyl ester is introduced into the middle part of the reaction column. The product collected in the sump of the column is removed, heated and returned to the lower part of the reaction column. Product is removed from the sump. Lower alkanols passing from the reaction column section to the rectifying section are rectified. The reaction column is operated in boiling equilibrium in its lower part and predominantly in an absorption/desorption equilibrium in its upper part.

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Duesseldorf, Germany

Bernard Schleper