A Biodiesel processor is a combination reaction vessel and still for producing biodiesel from vegetable oil.

Industrial procesors

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.

• In the static mixer, the base, the methanol and vegetable oil are mixed.
• In the reactor, esterification of free fatty acids occurs.
• In the second static mixer a catalyst is added to the methanol-oil mix for the transesterification.
• In the second reactor, transesterification occurs.
• In the third mixer, the product of the reaction (biodiesel, glycerol and methanol solvent) are neutralizated by introducing a mineral acid.
• In the flash vaporizer (distillation unit), the alcohol is separated. The vapors of methanol are condensed and sent to the reception unit to be introduced again in the cycle.
• The remainig products in the flash vaporizer (biodiesel, glycerol, salts and water) are sent to the continuous decanter, to separate biodiesel from the rest of the by-products.
• The light phase of the solution in the decanter is sent to the storage tank and the heavy phase (impure glycerol and salts) is sent to another storagee tank for later purification. It contains 90% pure glycerol, water and salts.

These are the typical values of raw materials and consumsables to produce 1 t of biodiesel and 112 kg of glycerol (85% min.)

• RAW MATERIAL
  • Refined vegetable oil: 1030 kg.
  • Methanol: 102 kg.
  • Catalyst (sodium methylate ): 6,2 kg.
  • Mineral acid: 6 kg
• SERVICES
  • Cooling water: 20 m³
  • Steam (at 4 bar): 350 kg.
  • Electricity: 50 kwh.
  • Nitrogen: 3,2 m³

Biodiesel processors for home brew users

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 Biodiesel