TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred System: The system further comprises a backpressure regulator (114) positioned between the reactor unit (104) and the flash drum, a spray nozzle (116) positioned between the backpressure regulator and the flash drum, a condenser (106) coupled to the reactor unit (102), and a heating device and a heat-insulating device (112) coupled to the reactor unit (104). Preferred Unit: The reactor unit (102) comprises at least one stirred tank reactor and a tubular reactor. The reactor unit (104) comprises a tubular reactor. The reactor unit (104) comprises reactor tube (I) having a diameter (D1) and comprising at least one static mixing element (118), another reactor tube (II) having a diameter (D2) and at least one static mixing element, where the diameter (D2) is greater than the diameter (D1), and another reactor tube (III) having an open tube. The reactor tubes (I-III) are sequentially coupled to form a reaction vessel having an input end and an output end. The reaction vessel extends substantially vertically, and the output end is higher than the input end. The reaction vessel is a serpentine tube. The condenser condenses exhaust of alcohol and water from the reactor unit (102), and is configured to maintain water in the reactor unit (102) in the concentration range of 0.5 w/w% or less. Preferred Properties: The alcohol is in concentration of 10-20 moles per mole of free fatty acids, and acid catalyst is in concentration of 0.1-0.5 moles per mole of free fatty acids. The alkali catalyst is in concentration of 0.25-1.5 w/w% sodium hydroxide equivalent w/w of oil. The residence time for triglyceride feedstock in the reactor tube (I,II) is 1-5 minutes and 5-20 minutes. Preferred Components: The acid catalyst is a catalyst selected from the group consisting of an alkyl acid, aryl acid, alkaryl acid, sulfonic acid and non-volatile mineral acid. The alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol and n-pentanol. The alkali catalyst is an alkali selected from the group consisting of oxide, hydroxide and alcoholate of sodium or potassium. Preferred Process: The feedstock is reacted in at least one stirred tank reactor or tubular reactor. Alcohol and water are continuously purged from the reactor unit to maintain predetermined concentration of water in the reactor. The alcohol is recovered from the acid-alcohol-water layer and recycled back to the reactor unit. The triglyceride feedstock is heated to 65-100degreesC before reaction. The feedstock is reacted in pressure range of 85-150 psig. The reacting operates in a laminar flow regime. Separation of the ester phase from the glycerol phase is initiated in the reactor unit, using a separation unit such as a decanter or a centrifuge. Alcohol is vaporized and separated from the reaction product. The vaporization occurs in a flash drum. The flash drum is maintained in pressure range of 2-5 psig and temperature range of 10-30degreesC above the normal boiling point of the alcohol. The residence time for the reaction product in the flash drum is 4-10 minutes. The reaction product is fed into the flash drum through spray nozzle.