PURPOSE: To provide an efficient process for continuous production of a sucrose 6-ester without requiring the addition or removal of an acid.

CONSTITUTION: A soln. of sucrose and trimethyl orthoacetate in dimethylformamide is passed through a column of an Amberlyst (R) 15 (H+) resin where the soln. is allowed to flow down. Water is continuously added to the eluate to cool the eluate. The cooled soln. is then passed through a second column of the Amberlyst (R) 15 (H+) resin where the soln. is allowed to flow down. The eluate is treated with potassium carbonate. The soln. is neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid after one hour and is thickened to obtain syrup contg. crude sucrose 6-acetate. The syrup is dissolved in hot methanol and is cooled and crystallized. The product is washed with methanol and is vacuum dried, by which the objective sucrose 6-acetate is obtd.