There are provided a harmful substance removing method and apparatus wherein a workpiece containing harmful substances is heated within a crucible (30) in an unopened, hermetically sealed state of the crucible in the absence of oxygen, at a low pressure and a higher temperature, and which can improve the treatment efficiency, does not release carbon dioxide, can reduce the apparatus size and the manufacturing cost, and performs heat treatment at a relatively low temperature to reduce the running cost. ??A cooling vessel (82) and gas liquefying traps (86c, 86b, 86a) and traps (94a, 94b, 94c) are provided between the crucible (30) and suction force generating vacuum pumps (90, 98), and the space between the crucible (30) and the vacuum pumps (90, 98) is kept in a hermetically sealed state. A screw (50) for introducing and discharging the workpiece into and from the crucible (30) is provided. The workpiece is fed to the screw (50) from an upward introducing member (58) which is shut off from the exterior in a hermetically sealed state, and is discharged from the screw (50) through a downward discharge member (60) which is shut off from the exterior in a hermetically sealed state. With this construction, the workpiece can be decomposed without opening the crucible (30) and therefore it is possible to enhance the treatment efficiency. IMAGE
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