Method for processing benzene polycarboxylic acid esters and use of same to produce cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid esters

A process for workup of a crude ester from the esterification of a benzenepolycarboxylic acid with at least one C4-C12 monoalkanol, wherein the crude ester additionally comprises

• at least one di-(C4-C12-alkyl) ether from the etherification of the at least one C4-C12 monoalkanol,
• optionally the at least one C4-C12 monoalkanol, and
• optionally water,
• in which the crude ester is subjected to a thermal purification in at least one mass transfer apparatus by introducing a steam-containing gas stream in the region of the bottom of the mass transfer apparatus to obtain a bottom product enriched in the at least one benzenepolycarboxylic ester and depleted of the at least one di-(C4-C12-alkyl) ether and a vapor enriched in the at least one di-(C4-C12-alkyl) ether;
• wherein the vapor is at least partly condensed, and the condensate is separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising di-(C4-C12-alkyl) ether and C4-C12 monoalkanol, a portion of the organic phase is recycled as reflux stream into the thermal purification of the crude ester, and another portion of the organic phase is discharged.