Abstract: The invention provides a process for the esterification of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.24 monocarboxylic acid with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 monoalcohol in a reactor at an increased reaction temperature and increased pressure which is carried out in the absence of any esterification catalyst while continuously feeding in the alcohol during the reaction and removing a gaseous alcohol/water mixture. Preferably the process is carried out in countercurrent in column reactor which is packed or contains plates. The reaction temperature is usually between 200.degree. C. and 260.degree. C. at a pressure between 0.5 and 1.5 MPa. There is a C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 monocarboxylic acid and monoalcohol a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 monoalcohol. More preferably the process is carried in two steps with a first step as described above and a second step in which further reaction to a conversion of at least 99% is carried out in the presence of an esterification catalyst at a temperature below 100.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the production of high-purity fatty-acid lower-alkyl mono-esters which comprises a first transesterification step between glycerol fatty-acid esters and a lower alcohol, a separation step wherein the reaction product of the esterification step is separated into glycerol-rich and fatty-acid lower-alkyl mono-ester rich fractions, a second esterification step in which all glycerol and fatty-acid glycerolesters of the fatty-acid lower-alkyl mono-ester rich fraction are esterified to the corresponding fatty-acid triglycerolesters, and a recovery step wherein said fatty-acid lower-alkyl mono-esters are recovered.