Abstract: Process for the preparation of dimeric fatty acid C1-4 alkyl esters comprising the steps of A) reacting a soybean oil condensate obtained from the deodorization of refined soybean oil and which contains less than 30% by weight of free and esterified oleic acid based on the total weight of free and esterified fatty acids in said condensate, with a C1-4 alkanol in the presence of a zinc oxide catalyst to convert free fatty acids and fatty acid glyceride esters to fatty acid C1-4 alkyl esters; B) removing excess C1-4 alkanol, volatile reaction by-products, water, and the zinc oxide catalyst from the resulting reaction mixture; C) heating the reaction mixture from step B) under vacuum to obtain a distillate of fatty acid C1-4 alkyl esters; D) separating the distillate from step C) into a fraction containing mostly C16-18 saturated fatty acid C1-4 alkyl esters and a second fraction containing mostly C16-18 unsaturated fatty acid C1-4 alkyl esters wherein the oleic acid C1-4 alkyl ester content is less than abo