Preparation of cycloalkanols

A process for the preparation of cycloalkanols by the hydrolysis of cycloalkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acid ester comprising the following steps:

• a) reacting cycloalkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acid esters with water at a temperature of from 30.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the liquid phase to yield a reaction mixture consisting of cycloalkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acid esters, cycloalkanol, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acids, and water
• b) separating the reaction mixture obtained in stage a) into physically distinct and mechanically separable phases at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 200.degree. C. into a top phase consisting essentially of cycloalkanol and cycloalkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acid esters and a bottom phase consisting essentially of water and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acids, and
• c) separating cycloalkanol from the top phase obtained in stage b) by distillation, leaving unconverted cycloalkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acid esters in the top phase, and recycling the unconverted cycloalkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 fatty acid esters to stage a).