A Biodiesel processor is a combination reaction vessel and still for producing biodiesel from vegetable oil.
Batch processing is convenient for small productions (no more than 10,000 t/year).
In the industrial continuous machines, the reaction and distillation of the alcohol is a batch processing and the decantation is continuous.
Biodiesel can be made at home. The required ingredients are any triglyceride fat or oil (animal tallow or vegetable oil, as used in cooking), a strong base (for example Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or Potassium hydroxide (KOH)), and relatively pure alcohol (either methanol or ethanol). Higher (longer carbon chain) alcohols, longer than isopropyl alcohol commonly the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol), do not work so well. Used oil for processing is often obtained from restaurants.
A number of different variations on methods of making biodiesel exist. It is usually made in small batch processors in the garage but some have adapted processors to fit in the backs of vans and so be transportable.
One of the difficulties faced by potential biodiesel homebrewers is making a mid-scale biodiesel processor sufficiently simple to be cheap, safe, easy to make, appropriate and that produces biodiesel of sufficient quality for their requirements.
See also How to make BiodieselIndustrial procesors
These are the typical values of raw materials and consumsables to produce 1 t of biodiesel and 112 Kg of glycerol (85% min.)Biodiesel processors for home brew users