Abstract: A mixture of a methylene chloride solution as a halogen-containing solvent with water is put in a treatment tank to generate vapors. The generated methylene chloride vapor, water vapor, and occasionally surfactant vapor penetrate into a waste synthetic resin film (W). When the interior of the treatment tank (T) is evacuated, chloride ions (Cl-)and methylene free radicals (--CH.sub.2 --) generated from the vapors exhibit an oxidative effect for a longer time more strongly than usual. This breaks a long-chain hydrocarbon molecule constituting the synthetic resin or the like to carbohydrates, alcohols, and water, so that the waste is dissolved or decomposed. Further, harmful components of PCB and fat or oil components of animals, fish and the like are decomposed.

Abstract: A wood treating apparatus for efficiently treating wood with a chlorine-based organic solvent includes: a solvent tank storing a mixture of chlorine-based solvent and water, which solvent tank is provided with a heater for heating the mixture to generate vapor of chlorine-based solvent and water; a treating chamber for containing wood to be treated, which treating chamber receives the vapor from the solvent tank; and a cooling chamber contacting an upper portion of the treating chamber for cooling and condensing the vapor. The treated wood dries rapidly, and can uniformly be dyed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a metal material. In the present invention, a chlorine hydrocarbon solution, water and surfactant solution are mixed together. As an alternative to chlorine hydrocarbon solution, methylene chloride solution may be used. The mixture solution is heated to generate chlorine hydrocarbon gas, water vapor or steam and surfactant gas. The gas mixture fills a hermetically sealed processing tank and permeates a metal material, particularly, a steel material or iron powder disposed in the processing tank. Thus, impurities in open areas of crystal cells of the metal material are dissolved and removed. Then an indissoluble film composed of anticorrosive rust is formed on the surface of the metal material. Where the metal material is steel or iron powder, the anticorrosive rust primarily comprises triiron tetroxide (Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4).

Abstract: Halogenated hydrocarbon solution, water, and surfactant solution are mixed together; said mixture solution is heated for generating halogenated hydrocarbon gas, water vapor, and surfactant gas; said mixture gas is filled into a processing tank in which wood has been hermetically contained so as to permeate into said wood; and resin in wood is dissolved so that pits of the membrane of wood cells may be opened. As said halogenated hydrocarbon solution, used is methylene chloride solvent solution.

Abstract: There are available as chlorine base organic solvents for cleaning by vapor-defatting methylene chloride (CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2), trichloro ethylene (CHCl.dbd.CCl.sub.2), perchloroethylene (CCl.sub.2 .dbd.CCl.sub.2), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CH.sub.3 CCl.sub.3) and flon 113 (CCl.sub.2 FCClF.sub.2), etc., of which mainly used is a methylene chloride (CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2) solvent. By vaporizing said methylene chloride solvent and permeating its vapor into the wood to be treated 10, to melt the tough lignin in the cell structure, thereby perforating the cell membranes, and undermine the valve action of portholes of the false vessels or vessels, fleeing of the cell water confined inside the cells and lumens is facilitated through said perforations and the porthole valves. By perforating the cells and undermining the valve action of the portholes, the fleeing of the free water confined therein, when drying the treated wood by hot air or sun's heat, is facilitated, for the benefit of very rapid drying.