Process for the production of wax ester and hydrogenation of the wax ester to fatty alcohol

Prepn. of fatty alcohols (A) from a liq. starting mixt. (M) contg. at least one 6-30C fatty acid (B) and 1 - 1.5 mols. 6-30C (A) per mol. (B), comprises the following steps : (1) (M) is stirred in one or more zones at ca. 120 - 320 degrees C ; (2) the wax ester-contg. mixt. is sprayed into a zone with a steam atmos. ; (3) at least some of the steam is removed to give an intermediate prod. comprising min. 50 wt.% wax ester ; (4) the intermediate prod. is hydrogenated to form a crude prod. comprising at least 75 wt.% (A) ; (5) the partial flow contg. (A) is sepd. from the crude prod.; and (6) (M) is added to this flow.