Patent ID: 7863477

Claim:
A process comprising: (a) producing an alcohol-containing liquid from a distillation zone; (b) mixing at least a portion of said alcohol-containing liquid with solid particles of an acid to thereby provide a paste; (c) combining said paste with a recirculation liquid to thereby provide an esterification feed; and (d) subjecting at least a portion of said esterification feed to esterification in an esterification zone, wherein the temperature of said paste when combined with said recirculation liquid is not more than 150Â° C. cooler than the temperature of said alcohol-containing liquid when exiting said distillation zone, wherein said alcohol-containing liquid exits the distillation zone at a temperature in the range of from about 175Â° C. to about 250Â° C., wherein the temperature of the said paste when combined with said recirculation liquid is in the range of 80Â° C. to about 170Â° C.