The invention comprises a multi-stage process and apparatus that converts various waste and low­value feedstocks, such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, to produce useful materials, including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids, in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost and with high energy efficiency, without producing malodorous emissions. The invention further provides for an apparatus for converting an organic liquor into a mixture of hydrocarbons and carbon solids, comprising: a heater for producing a mixture of liquid and vaporized oil from the organic liquor; a reactor for converting the mixture into carbon solids and a hydrocarbon/gas mixture; a first cooler for accepting the carbon solids; and a second cooler for accepting the hydrocarbon/gas mixture. The invention still further relates to a separator that separates out particulates of a dimension of about 1 micron, such as cellular debris from bacteria, from a surrounding fluid.