Fatty acid ester

 Fatty acid esters (FAEs) are a type of ester that result from the combination of a fatty acid with an alcohol. When the alcohol component is glycerol, the fatty acid esters produced can be monoglycerides, diglycerides, or triglycerides. Dietary fats are chemically triglycerides.
Glycerol esters of fatty acids occur as colorless to brown powders, flakes, coarse powders, or granular or waxy lumps, or are a colorless to brown semi-fluids or liquids. They are odorless or have a characteristic odor.
Biodiesels are typically fatty acid esters made by the transesterification of vegetable fats and oils. In this process the glycerol component is replaced with a different alcohol. The most commonly used alcohol is methanol, producing fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). When ethanol is used fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) are created. Other alcohols used for the production of biodiesel include butanol and isopropanol.
Fatty acid ethyl esters are biomarkers for the consumption of ethanol (alcoholic beverages).