Abstract: A system for the recovery of the vaporizable constituents of a particulate, hydrocarbon-containing composite. A suitable source material is continuously conveyed into the system through an air entry prevention means and submitted to at least one heating by a molten heat transfer material contained in a chamber surrounding the conveyor transporting the particulate composite. The vaporized products released from the particulate composite, when heated, are collected in at least one products recovery means and are condensed and separated into respective gaseous and liquid components. The particulate composite is then conveyed from the molten heat transfer liquid which is also an exit air seal, cooled, and then discarded in a conventional member.