Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for producing synthetic gas. The apparatus has a pyrolysis chamber (12) for generating synthetic gas, a reformer unit (14), conduit means (22, 24) forming a circulation loop for repeatedly circulating gases between said pyrolysis chamber and said water-gas shift reaction zone and means for adding hydrogen to said gas circulating in said loop by way of a water-gas shift reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for producing synthetic gas. The apparatus has a pyrolysis chamber (12) for generating synthetic gas, a reformer unit (14), conduit means (22, 24) forming a circulation loop for repeatedly circulating gases between said pyrolysis chamber and said water-gas shift reaction zone and means for adding hydrogen to said gas circulating in said loop by way of a water-gas shift reaction.

Abstract: An oven (10) has a rotatable portion (12, 14) comprising an outer chamber (20) and an inner treatment chamber (22) within the outer chamber. The inner treatment chamber is adapted to receive material for treatment and the oven has means (28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 42) to heat the inner treatment chamber externally. Preferably, the inner treatment chamber is heated by means of a flow of hot gases through the outer chamber, which passes over the external surfaces of the walls of the inner treatment chamber. The oven may also include means (44, 48) for introducing a flow of hot gasses through the inner treatment chamber. The flow rate of the hot gasses passing through the inner and outer chambers can be varied according to the nature of the material being treated. The oven is particularly suited to thermally de-coating scrap materials.