METHOD FOR PRODUCING (METH)ACRYLIC ACID ESTERS

(Meth)acrylates are prepared by reacting (meth)acrylic acid with an alcohol in the presence of at least one acidic catalyst and at least one polymerization inhibitor in a reaction zone b) consisting of at least one reactor b1) having at least one connected distillation unit b2), by a process in which in reactor b1), the temperature is brought to from 120 to 150° C. and the desired (meth)acrylic acid: alcohol stoichiometry is established, the distillate of the distillation unit b2) is treated with a wash liquid (wash step c)), the discharge from the wash step c) is separated into at least one organic phase c1) and at least two aqueous phases c2) and c3), the organic phase c1) is passed partly as reflux into the distillation unit b2) and partly, without further scrubbing, into a purification b) of the (meth)acrylate by distillation and the aqueous phases c2) and c3) are passed at least partly into an alcohol recovery d).