Method for purifying (meth)acrylic esters using a divided wall column

The invention relates to the production of (meth)acrylic esters according to a process by direct esterification, and in particular to the purification of a crude reaction mixture comprising a C4-C12 (meth)acrylic ester using a dividing wall column employed in a particular configuration. The dividing wall column is equipped with a separating wall creating separation zones in the column, the wall not being joined to the upper dome of the column in the top part and being joined to the bottom of the column in the bottom part. The process according to the invention guarantees a product of very high purity, independently of the back-cracking reactions of the heavy by-products liable to arise during the purification of the product sought.