A method of and apparatus for continuously making an organic ester from a
lower alcohol and an organic acid is disclosed. An organic acid or salt
is introduced or produced in an electrode ionization (EDI) stack with a
plurality of reaction chambers each formed from a porous solid ion
exchange resin wafer interleaved between anion exchange membranes or an
anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane or an anion
exchange membrane and a bipolar exchange membranes. At least some
reaction chambers are esterification chambers and/or bioreactor chambers
and/or chambers containing an organic acid or salt. A lower alcohol in
the esterification chamber reacts with an anion to form an organic ester
and water with at least some of the water splitting with the ions leaving
the chamber to drive the reaction.