Catalytic esterification process for the synthesis of a fatty acid ester of general formula RCOO-R' by reaction between a fatty acid of general formula RCOOH and a mono-alcohol of general formula R'OH, wherein: - R represents an alkyl group, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, containing from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; - R' represents a group containing from 6 to 16 carbon atoms; wherein the catalyst is a zinc(II) salt with basic anions, preferably zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc carbonate (ZnCOs), zinc acetate (Zn(OAc) 2 ), and which consists of the following five consecutive phases : (i) a heating step of the reaction mixture at a temperature between 150-180°C and at an operating pressure of 760 mmHg until the catalyst is dissolved; (ii) a reaction step between the used species at a temperature between 150-180°C, at an operating pressure of 760 mmHg, for a time between 4 and 6h for the synthesis of the desired ester during which the temperature conditions used allow the removal by distillation of the water produced; (iii) a distillation step of the alcohol fraction in excess and of the remaining traces of water at a pressure of 100 mmHg for a time between 30 and 60 minutes; (iv) a cooling step of the reaction mixture containing the ester produced, at least 90% by mass, at room temperature and pressure, until precipitation of a solid containing Zn(II); (v) a separation phase of the ester obtained by filtration of the solid at reduced pressure; the process allowing to recycle the solid precipitated in the previous point (v) as a catalyst for the subsequent esterification reactions without loss of catalytic activity. - R represents an alkyl group, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, containing from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; - R' represents a group containing from 6 to 16 carbon atoms; wherein the catalyst is a zinc(II) salt with basic anions, preferably zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc carbonate (ZnCOs), zinc acetate (Zn(OAc) 2 ), and which consists of the following five consecutive phases : (i) a heating step of the reaction mixture at a temperature between 150-180°C and at an operating pressure of 760 mmHg until the catalyst is dissolved; (ii) a reaction step between the used species at a temperature between 150-180°C, at an operating pressure of 760 mmHg, for a time between 4 and 6h for the synthesis of the desired ester during which the temperature conditions used allow the removal by distillation of the water produced; (iii) a distillation step of the alcohol fraction in excess and of the remaining traces of water at a pressure of 100 mmHg for a time between 30 and 60 minutes; (iv) a cooling step of the reaction mixture containing the ester produced, at least 90% by mass, at room temperature and pressure, until precipitation of a solid containing Zn(II); (v) a separation phase of the ester obtained by filtration of the solid at reduced pressure; (i) a heating step of the reaction mixture at a temperature between 150-180°C and at an operating pressure of 760 mmHg until the catalyst is dissolved; (ii) a reaction step between the used species at a temperature between 150-180°C, at an operating pressure of 760 mmHg, for a time between 4 and 6h for the synthesis of the desired ester during which the temperature conditions used allow the removal by distillation of the water produced; (iii) a distillation step of the alcohol fraction in excess and of the remaining traces of water at a pressure of 100 mmHg for a time between 30 and 60 minutes; (iv) a cooling step of the reaction mixture containing the ester produced, at least 90% by mass, at room temperature and pressure, until precipitation of a solid containing Zn(II); (v) a separation phase of the ester obtained by filtration of the solid at reduced pressure; the process allowing to recycle the solid precipitated in the previous point (v) as a catalyst for the subsequent esterification reactions without loss of catalytic activity. <EOS>