Transesterification

Transesterification is a chemical process where an existing ester (a compound derived from acids and alcohols) is transformed into a different ester by exchanging its alcohol group with another alcohol. In practical terms, it's often used to convert fats or oils (which are esters of glycerol and fatty acids) into biodiesel by reacting them with an alcohol like methanol, in the presence of a catalyst. This process breaks down the original fats and reassembles them into biodiesel and glycerol. It’s a key step in producing cleaner-burning alternative fuels from natural oils.