Abstract: In the method of destroying hydrocarbons disclosed herein, a high temperature plasma is generated from an electrical discharge in a flow of hydrogen gas devoid of oxygen. The hydrocarbon to be destroyed is injected into the plasma thereby to decompose the hydrocarbon and produce an increased amount of hydrogen gas and also carbon particles. The carbon is then separated from the flow and at least a portion of the increased hydrogen is combined or combusted with atmospheric oxygen to generate electric current. That current is then applied to generate the plasma. Another portion of the hydrogen gas is fed back to feed the plasma generation. For hydrocarbon materials containing chlorine, the discharge flow is passed through an alkaline scrubber. An advantage of the method is that it produes carbon of exceptional purity which has significant commercial uses.