Abstract: The carcass of a dead animal is placed within a heating chamber and a burner disposed at one end of the chamber emits a flame which substantially engulfs the chamber. A control for fuel/air mixture of the burner insures a steady reliable heating action which elevates the chamber to approximately 1200.degree. F at which time the animal carcass, without substantial incineration, is pyrolytically decomposed so that the animal material is destructively distilled out of the chamber and up the stack, the stack being located at the end of the heating chamber remote from the burner. The volatilized hydrocarbon may either be condensed, vented to atmosphere or burned within the stack through an after-burner. The volatilized hydrocarbon is biodegradable and does not have an adverse polluting effect upon the environment.The foregoing process occurs without substantial emission of visible smoke or offensive odors.