TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: Reduction (P2) of the filter blocking tendency of biodiesel involves distilling a biodiesel reaction product to separate at least one of tocopherols and sterol glucosides from biodiesel. Production (P3) of a biodiesel fuel blend involves obtaining a biodiesel product from a process where a starting feedstock oil comprises palm oil; and blending the biodiesel product with at least one kerosene, petroleum diesel, and/or chemical agent in an amount effective to inhibit gelling of the biodiesel fuel blend at temperatures below 40 degrees F. Obtaining (P4) several biodiesel output products involves producing a biodiesel reaction product stream; performing at least one vaporization-condensation cycle upon the biodiesel reaction product stream for separating the biodiesel reaction product stream into several biodiesel output products selected from impurities, industrial biodiesel, automotive biodiesel, bottoms, tocopherols, sterol glucosides, and catalyst. Separation (P5) of biodiesel from mixed products of a transesterification process involves delivering mixed products of the transesterification process comprising biodiesel and glycerol to a coalescer; coalescing droplets of glycerol into a glycerol layer; allowing the glycerol layer to settle out of the mixed products; and separating the glycerol layer from the mixed products to recover the biodiesel. Separation (P6) of glycerin from a biodiesel reaction mixture involves transferring the biodiesel reaction mixture to a decanter; allowing the glycerin to settle out of the biodiesel reaction mixture; and monitoring the temperature and pressure of the contents of the decanter to maintain glycerin solubility. Preparation (P7) of a glycerin by-product from a biodiesel reaction involves decanting glycerin from a biodiesel reaction mixture; mixing decanted glycerin with anti-foam agent; and subjecting decanted glycerin to flash evaporation to remove excess alcohol. Removal (P8) of surplus alcohol from a biodiesel reaction product involves distributing a biodiesel reaction product comprising surplus alcohol within a flash evaporation vessel; heating the biodiesel reaction product within the flash evaporation vessel to a temperature that evaporates the surplus alcohol from the biodiesel reaction product; and discharging evaporated surplus alcohol from the flash evaporation vessel through a mist eliminator. The process (P1) further involves subjecting the biodiesel to a test of filter plugging tendency, passing a sample of the biodiesel at a constant rate of flow through a glass fiber filter medium; monitoring the pressure drop across the filter during the passage of a fixed volume of the biodiesel; determining if a prescribed maximum pressure drop is reached before the total volume of biodiesel is filtered; recording the actual volume of fuel filtered at the time of maximum pressure drop, where the biodiesel fails the test if the maximum pressure is reached before the total volume of biodiesel is filtered; and re-distilling the biodiesel if the biodiesel does not pass the filter plugging tendency test. The biodiesel passes the test if the total volume of biodiesel is filtered before reaching the maximum pressure. The process (P1) further involves burning the excess alcohol to provide energy for subsequent iterations of any step of the process for producing the biodiesel; reacting the biodiesel reaction product in a second reactor after the first decanting step, and decanting the mixture from the second reactor in a second decanter; pressurizing the reactor; controlling the temperature of the reactor; and separating heavy materials from several biodiesels in the distillation column. The process (P1) is substantially continuous; and is modified to alter biodiesel yield, and quality. The process (P2) further involves adding a biodiesel stabilizer to enhance biodiesel stability. The biodiesel is grade tailored by distillation. The tocopherols are recovered as valuable byproducts. In system (S1), recycling involves burning the alcohol to provide energy for subsequent iterations of any step of the process for producing the biodiesel; using the excess alcohol in a subsequent biodiesel reaction; and separating the excess alcohol as a specialty chemical product. In column (C1), only a single biodiesel is collected when canola oil is the feedstock. The method (P6) further involves adding an anti-foam agent to prevent foaming of the glycerin; and adding a catalyst kill agent to terminate the action of the catalyst. In method (P7), the glycerin is neutralized with sulfuric acid. In process (P1), catalyst is sodium methylate. The catalyst kill agent is carbon dioxide. Preferred Product: A transesterified biodiesel product (B1) comprises a methyl ester with a gel point of at least 60 (preferably 35) degrees F, where the product is substantially free of glycerin, catalyst, methanol, and free fatty acids, and where the product is also substantially free of sterol glucosides and tocopherols. A financial product (F1) comprises a contract having supply as a variable with greater influence than price, where the contract is on a biodiesel commodity. Preferred Column: A split distillation column (C1) for separating a biodiesel reaction product into a set of biodiesels comprises an inlet for the entry of the biodiesel reaction product into a distillation chamber within the distillation column; a heat source in operative relation to the distillation chamber for heating the biodiesel reaction product in the distillation chamber to separate it into the set of biodiesels based on their volatility; a structured packing support surrounding the distillation chamber to enhance the efficiency of the heat source; several trays or liquid collection areas arranged vertically within the distillation chamber to collect the components of the biodiesel reaction product at specified levels within the chamber, where the number of collection areas used for distillation are dependent on the feedstock used to obtain the biodiesel; an outflow channel for each tray or area to transport the biodiesel components to a collection manifold; and a liquid distributor in fluid communication with the collection manifold that separates the components into a set of biodiesels. Preferred Reactor: A biodiesel reactor (R1) comprises a housing enclosing a chamber for reaction of biodiesel precursor raw materials; an inlet in the housing for inflow of the raw materials; a stir bar anchored to an inner aspect of the housing bearing several stir paddles extending outwardly; at least one baffle partially segmenting the chamber into several mixing regions; and an outlet for outflow of reaction mixture. A biodiesel production facility comprises a temperature controlled storage tank in fluid communication with a biodiesel reaction chamber; a decanter downstream of the biodiesel reaction chamber and in fluid communication with it; a flash evaporator downstream of the decanter and in fluid communication with it; and a distillation column downstream of the flash evaporator and in fluid communication with it. In reactor (R1), the stir bar is anchored centrally within the housing or oriented vertically within the housing. The stir paddles are attached to the stir bar at substantially right angles. The baffles are attached to the housing at an angle that is the same as the angle at which the stir paddles are attached to the stir bar. The inlet is adapted for an inflow of several feedstocks. The reactor (R1) further comprises a pressure and temperature controller. In reactor (R1), the biodiesel precursor raw materials comprise a feedstock oil, an alcohol, and a catalyst. The alcohol is selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol. The catalyst is selected from sodium methylate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and vanadium-based catalysts. The feedstock oil is selected from vegetable oil, fish oil, algae oil, rendered animal fats, used cooking oils, jatropha oil, and biomass conversion oils. Preferred Unit: A biodiesel production unit (U1) comprises a biodiesel process management facility (W1) comprising a feedstock selector for analyzing and selecting feedstock, a feedstock database containing feedstock parameters, a client database containing client specifications for biodiesel output, a reaction control facility for monitoring reaction parameters within the biodiesel production unit and for optimizing reaction parameters in accordance with feedstock parameters and client specifications; at least one biodiesel reaction chamber comprising an impeller system for mixing biodiesel precursor raw materials to obtain biodiesel reaction products; a first sensor system that identifies reaction parameters in the reaction chamber including temperature, pressure and impeller performance and that communicates with the biodiesel process management facility; at least one decanter in fluid communication with the biodiesel reaction chamber for separating biodiesel reaction products from glycerin byproducts; a flash evaporation system in fluid communication with the decanter for recovering alcohol from byproducts; a second sensor system that identifies reaction parameters in the flash evaporation system and that communicates with the biodiesel process management facility; a distillation column in fluid communication with the decanter for separating biodiesel reaction products into several biodiesels; a third sensor system that identifies reaction parameters in the distillation column and that communicates with the biodiesel process management facility; a biodiesel output analytics and management facility for analyzing characteristics of each biodiesel in several biodiesels; a biodiesel product handling facility in fluid communication with the distillation column, comprising a product management facility, a storage system and a product outflow system; and a byproducts handling facility in fluid communication with the distillation column, comprising a byproducts recycling and utilization facility, a byproducts disposal facility, and a byproducts storage system. In biodiesel production unit (U1), all components are contained within a single housing. The unit is sized to permit portability; and further comprises several biodiesel reaction chambers; and several decanters comprising a centrifuge or a coalescer. Preferred System: An alcohol recovery system (S1) for a biodiesel production unit comprises an alcohol reboiler; and a liquid ring vacuum pump in fluid communication with an alcohol condenser and a non-condensable gas condenser, where excess alcohol from biodiesel production is recovered and recycled back to the biodiesel production unit. A flash evaporation system (S2) for removing surplus alcohol from a biodiesel reaction product comprises a flash evaporation chamber comprising a reservoir for the biodiesel reaction product and a heat exchanger for heating the biodiesel reaction product sufficiently to evaporate surplus alcohol from it, the heat exchanger further comprising a liquid distributor for loading the biodiesel reaction product evenly within the heat exchanger, a first collection manifold for recovering surplus alcohol from the heat exchanger, and a second collection manifold for recovering processed biodiesel; an inline flash point analyzer in fluid communication with the second collection manifold for measuring the flash point of the processed biodiesel; and a safety system, comprising an oxygen analyzer, a vacuum, a flame arrestor, a rupture disk, and a sloped line, disposed within the flash evaporation chamber to monitor safety parameters for the flash evaporation system, the safety system further comprising a failsafe circuit to halt flash evaporation if a safety parameter is exceeded. A feedstock storage system (S3) comprises a feedstock tank for storing a feedstock oil and its mixtures; an agitator within the feedstock tank to maintain homogeneity of the mixture; several temperature sensors within the feedstock tank to monitor the temperature of the mixture; a temperature controller in operative relation to the tank that heats or cools the mixture in accordance with a temperature specification provided by an end-user; and a temperature adjustment processor that receives signals from the temperature sensors and activates the temperature controller to maintain mixture temperature within the temperature specification; and an insulated delivery system that conveys the mixture from the feedstock tank while maintaining the mixture temperature within the temperature specification. A system (S4) for producing biodiesel comprises a biodiesel process management facility (W1); a biodiesel production unit for reacting feedstock to produce a biodiesel mixture; a separation facility for separating the biodiesel mixture from reaction byproducts; a distillation facility for distilling the biodiesel mixture into several biodiesel products; a biodiesel output analytics and management facility for analyzing characteristics of each biodiesel product; a biodiesel product management facility comprising a product database containing product and blend specifications for each biodiesel product and product management protocols; a biodiesel storage and transport facility for selecting variables selected from the group consisting of storage type, transport type, storage and transport conditions, and calculation of expiration date; and a temperature management facility for controlling the temperature within the storage and transport units. A biodiesel storage system comprises a biodiesel storage tank; an agitator arranged within the biodiesel tank; a tank heater arranged within the biodiesel tank for maintaining control of the biodiesel temperature; a temperature management system within the biodiesel tank for monitoring and regulating biodiesel temperature; a microbial monitor for detecting microbial contaminants of biodiesel; and a sampling inlet to monitor biodiesel quality and oxidative stability during biodiesel storage. In system (S4), the reaction control facility adjusts parameters based on at least one selected from feedstock type, alcohol type, catalyst type, amounts of raw materials, water content, sediment content, sulfur content, cetane number, pH, temperature, cost, and flash point. The biodiesel output analytics facility performs an analysis selected from gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, flash point analysis, water content analysis, sediment analysis, kinematic viscosity analysis, sulfur content analysis, copper strip corrosion analysis, cetane number analysis, cloud point analysis, conradson carbon residue analysis, distillation temperature analysis, lubricity analysis, microbial analysis, pH analysis, density analysis, and temperature analysis; provides operational feedback to the biodiesel process management facility; and determines a downstream processing protocol for a substance selected from biodiesel, biodiesel blends, by-products, and recovered raw materials. The biodiesel process management facility adjusts reaction parameters based on the operational feedback. The reaction parameters are selected from temperature, reaction duration, raw material quantity, raw material type, stir speed, order and speed of raw material addition. The downstream processing protocol comprises a technique selected from separation, blending, additive addition, recycling, disposal, utilization, distillation, purification, and further reaction. The temperature management facility regulates the temperature of chemical components situated in a reaction vessel selected from a biodiesel reaction chamber, decanter, flash evaporation system, distillation column, storage tank, pipeline, ship, and pump. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.