Patent ID: 7481981

Claim:
An apparatus for the production of a fatty acid ester E by means of a heterogeneous catalysis comprising a column; a fluid supply inlet in fluid connection with said column; a packing disposed in said column for carrying out a heterogeneous catalysis of a fatty acid and alcohol, said packing including porous catalyst supports defining flow channels therebetween for passage of a stripping gas between said catalyst supports and catalyst within said porous catalyst supports; a distributor for directing a downwardly directed flow of a mixture of fatty acid and alcohol onto said packing for passage through said catalyst supports in counter-flow to an upwardly directed flow of stripping gas with the mixture in direct contact with the gas to allow a material exchange to take place; and a sump below said packing for receiving alcohol from said packing and for generating an upward flow of stripping gas from the alcohol in said sump.