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Abstract

Disclosed is an improved process for the production of fatty acid lower alkyl esters according to formula (I)

description='In-line Formulae' end='lead'R¹CO—OR²  (I)description='In-line Formulae' end='tail'

in which R¹CO represents a linear or branched acyl moiety having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and 0 to 6 double bonds and wherein R² is a linear or branched alkyl moiety having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, by transesterification of triglycerides or fatty acid esters using C₁-C₆ aliphatic alcohols, which includes the steps of

(a) providing an aqueous mixture of aliphatic C1-C6 alcohol by fermenting in a first reactor a carbon source comprising carbohydrates and/or glycerol produce a fermentation broth comprising said aliphatic C1-C6 alcohol, (b) providing in a second reactor a triglyceride and/or an ester of a fatty acid, together with a biocatalyst capable of effecting a transesterification reaction, (c) transferring said aqueous aliphatic C1-C6 alcohol mixture obtained from said first reactor into said second reactor to provide a two-phase system, and (d) effecting the transesterification reaction to produce said fatty acid lower alkyl ester and a glycerol- or alcohol-containing aqueous phase.

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