Process for conjugating fatty acid esters

A process for producing conjugated fatty acid esters, comprising:

• (a) providing a substrate containing at least one unconjugated polyene fatty acid ester;
• (b) forming a reaction mixture by combining the substrate with from about 1 to about 5 percent by weight of an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst and from about 1 to about 5 percent by weight of a monohydric alcohol solvent, wherein the ratio of catalyst to solvent is from about 1:0.5 to about 1:3;
• and
• (c) subjecting the reaction mixture to a base-catalyzed isomerization reaction in a closed vessel at a temperature of from about 275 to about 350° F. and under the corresponding autogenic pressure for a time sufficient to generate a reaction product containing conjugated fatty acid methyl esters and potassium salts of conjugated fatty acids, in which at least about 90 percent of the unconjugated polyene fatty acid esters have been converted into conjugated forms.