Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the destruction of waste, like biologically difficult to degrade halogen-, nitrogen-, sulphur-, and/or oxygen containing compounds by thermal hydrogenolysis. The waste materials are heated together with an excess hydrogen and/or hydrogen donor during 1 to 10 sec. to a temperature between 700.degree.-1220.degree. C., followed by quenching the gaseous effluent of the reaction and separating it in a hydrocarbon and hydrogen containing phase and a hydrogen halogenide(s) nitrogen-, sulphur-, and/or oxygen containing compounds containing phase.Preferably the hydrogenolysis is performed in two steps, first during 1-10 sec. at 700.degree.-900.degree. C. and second during 1-10 sec. at 850.degree.-1200.degree. C.

Abstract: Genetic properties of higher plants are transformed by incubating protoplasts of the plants together with plasmid DNA. The incubation is effected in the presence of polyethylene glycol and calcium ions. Subsequently--during after-incubation--the calcium ion concentration in the incubation medium is gradually increased and at the same time the polyethylene glycol concentration is decreased. The resulting aggregates are separated, grown further separately, and examined for modification of their genetic properties.