METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING HYDROCARBONS FROM INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL WASTE MATERIALS AND FROM COAL AND LIKE CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS

摘要

Prodn. of useful hydrocarbon products from an organic raw matl. composed particularly of coal or other analogous carboniferous matl. such as cut up motor tyres, industrial plastic waste or household sewage consists of circulating the raw matl. through an elongated tubular element, maintained at a temp. of ca. 425 degrees -98/degrees C in the virtually complete absence of oxygen and by extracting the gases and vapours from this tubular element at a reduced pressure of 50-150 mm Hg, Advantageously, the raw matl. is agitated or turned over as it passes through the tubular element, to increase the surface area of contact between it and the inner surface of the element. The use of reduced pressure in the tubular treatment element ensures that liq. and gaseous hydrocarbons are drawn away before secondary reactions e.g. cracking, re-polymerisation can occur in contact with the carbonised residue.