Process for producing low VOC coalescing aids

A process for the preparation of a glycol ether ester, the process comprising (a) contacting in a reaction zone benzoic acid and/or benzoic acid anhydride with a glycol ether feed and a catalytic amount of phosphoric acid, to form a reaction mixture, under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a glycol ether ester product and water, wherein the feed comprises a glycol ether and butanal, and wherein the water and butanal are at least partially vaporized in the reaction zone and are passed to a separation zone providing a first crude product and having a butanal content of less than 5 ppm, and wherein the process is operated under conditions of temperature and pressure wherein the maximum temperature in the separation zone in step (a) is less than the boiling point of the reaction mixture.