Patent ID: 8692007

Claim:
A process for the transesterification of a hydroxylated oil in which the transesterification is carried out in the presence of methanol or ethanol and a basic catalyst under temperature, pressure and alcohol/oil weight ratio conditions allowing a greater than 95% conversion of the hydroxylated oil to fatty acid esters in only two transesterification steps, said process comprising the steps of: a) transesterifying in a first transesterification (T 1 ) said hydroxylated oil, resulting in the obtaining of a reaction mixture M 1 ; b) adding an aqueous solution S 1 so as to obtain a reaction mixture A comprising hydroxylated fatty acid esters and glycerol; c) separating said reaction mixture A by static settling and/or by centrifugal settling, to obtain a less dense phase A 1 predominantly consisting of fatty esters and a denser phase A 2 predominantly consisting of glycerol, water and fatty acid soaps; d) performing a second transesterification step T 2 in which methanol or ethanol and said basic catalyst are added to the phase A 1 so as to produce a reaction mixture M 2 .