Abstract: The invention relates to a process for pyrometallurgical processing, in a furnace chamber, of metal-containing waste which may also contain a quantity of organic material. The process involves a reducing gas being blown with high velocity onto the surface of the smelt in which the metal oxides are present in the molten state, the reducing gas being made by incomplete combustion of a fuel and/or the organic material and an oxygen-containing gas. Additionally, steam and/or an oxygen-rich gas such as almost pure oxygen are injected, roughly parallel to the surface of the smelt, into the oven chamber above said surface. The total amount of oxygen used in the furnace chamber is lower than the amount required stoichiometrically for complete combustion of the organic material together with the fuel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing waste or biomass material into valuable products such as, for example, combustible gases, which is characterized in that(a) the waste or biomass material is subjected to a pyrolysis at a temperature of 350-650.degree. C., advantageously 450-550.degree. C.;(b) the gas released in the course of the pyrolysis is subjected--without condensation--to a cracking treatment at a temperature of 1100-1600.degree. C., advantageously 1200-1400.degree. C., under the influence of oxygen-rich gas introduced from outside and possibly of steam;(c) the residue liberated in the course of the pyrolysis is gasified under a pressure of 0.5-1.5 bar, advantageously 0.8-1.2 bar, at a temperature of 1200-1700.degree. C., advantageously 1400-1600.degree. C.