Dear San,

Esterification is a conversion of an acid into an ester by combination with an alcohol and removal of a molecule of water. This process can be catalyzed by an acid or base.

Transesterification is a reaction between an ester of one alcohol and a second alcohol to form an ester of the second alcohol and an alcohol from the original ester, as that of methyl acetate and ethyl alcohol to form ethyl acetate and methyl alcohol; interesterification.

Hoping this will be helpful,

Rafik

Transesterification is catalysed by an acid or base, and can be carried out between a triglyceride (fats and oils) with an acid or alcohol to produce a complex equilibrium mixture of esters.

 The product can undergo further treatment such as hydrogenation or alkoxylation to produce a wide variety of ingredients e.g.

- Almond oil PEG-6 esters 

- Hydrogenated castor oil behenyl esters

- Sweet almond oil polyglyceryl-6 esters

              ROH + R'COOR'' -> R'COOR

Mustapha

Hi there,

Esterification is the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol whereas transesterification occurs between an ester and an alcohol.

Transfer of group from one ester (eg: acyl group from vinyl acetate) to alcohol to form another ester, this can be termed as transesterification. In organic chemistry, transesterification is the process of exchanging the organic group R″ of an ester with the organic group R′ of an alcohol. These reactions are often catalyzed by the addition of acid or base. The reaction can also be accomplished with the help of enzymes (biocatalysts) particularly lipases (E.C.3.1.1.3). Esterification is mainly the reaction between alcohols and carboxylic acids to make esters and also making esters from the reactions between acyl chlorides and alcohols.

Hii,

The esterification involves the reaction between a  acid and an alcohol whereas transesterification involves the reaction between an ester and an alcohol.

Esterification is any reaction (typically between an fatty acid and an alcohol) that results in the production of an ester, while transesterification is the reaction of an ester with an alcohol in order to replace the alkoxy group; it is used in the synthesis of polyesters and in the production of biodiesel.

If the free fatty acid present more in the oil transesterification reaction is followed (Alcohol+catalyst).it is one setu process, if the level free fatty acid increases then esterification has to be followed. (Acid+alcohol catalyst). It is two step process.

Based on the free fatty acid level one step or two process has to decide. we can also tell that esterification deals with acid+alcohol, whereas transesterification deals with alcohol+ester

Esterification includes an ester as the end product whereas transesterification includes an ester as a reactant.