Dual Catalyst Esterification

A method for producing esters comprising:

• providing an alcohol from an alcohol source;
• providing a feedstock from a feedstock source, wherein the feedstock has a carboxylic acid content;
• reacting the alcohol and the feedstock in a first reactor with a homogenous catalyst to produce a first reaction mixture;
• and
• reacting the first reaction mixture in a second reactor with a heterogeneous catalyst to produce a second reaction mixture having a carboxylic acid content which is lower than the carboxylic acid content of the feedstock.

A method for producing esters comprising:

• providing an alcohol from an alcohol source;
• providing a feedstock from a feedstock source, wherein the feedstock has a carboxylic acid content;
• reacting the alcohol and the feedstock in a first reactor with a homogenous catalyst and a heterogeneous catalyst to produce a first reaction mixture having a carboxylic acid content which is lower than the carboxylic acid content of the feedstock;
• and
• separating the first reaction mixture into a first stream comprising a majority of water and alcohol and a second stream comprising a dry reaction mixture.