TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The vacuum is applied to reduce pressure over time during the contacting step. The pressure is maintained at 760 mmHg while heat is applied during the contacting step to reach reaction temperature, and the pressure is reduced over time after the reaction temperature has been reached. The alcohol is 1 - 6 (preferably 1 - 3) equivalents. The pressure is reduced from 760 mmHg to less than 100 mmHg (preferably 30 - 60, especially less than 30, particularly less than 10) mmHg. The pressure is reduced over time and a constant stream of nitrogen is applied during the step of contacting the glycerol source and the oil source. The constant stream of nitrogen is not applied until the pressure has been reduced to at most 100 mmHg. Preferred Component: The alcohol is selected from methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol and butanol. EXAMPLE - To acidulated soap stock (1670 lbs), glycerol (304 lbs) was added. The mixture was agitated and heated to 180degreesC, while removing residual methanol from the recycled glycerin as well as reaction water from the formation of glycerides. The reaction water was removed by the use of vacuum (40 mmHg) and nitrogen sparging. After approximately 16 hours, an acid value of 1 was reached. The reaction was cooled to less than 60degreesC and methanol (732 lbs) and sodium methylate (45 lbs) were added. The mixture was heated to 68degreesC and maintained for 1 hour. Agitation was stopped and the glycerol phase was allowed to settle for approximately 1 hour. The residual methanol was removed via vacuum, and wash water (20 lbs) was added and the mixture was stirred for 15 minutes and then left to settle. The aqueous phase was removed from the bottom of the reactor. The reactor was then evacuated to remove residual water resulting in a crude methyl ester product. The crude methyl ester was then subjected to vacuum distillation yielding nearly colorless distilled methyl ester ( approximately 1429 lbs).