Abstract: Oxidizable liquid organic chemical residues are removed from large vessels by a non-catalytic method comprising:a. heating the vessel by introducing a heat source and oxygen into the interior of the vessel, the emitted heat being sufficient to volatilize substantially all and decompose at least a portion of said oxidizable liquid organic chemical contaminating the interior of said vessel;b. exhausting from the vessel combustion gas resulting from the volatilization and decomposition of the liquid organic chemical during the heating step;c. filtering particulates from the combustion gas and decomposing with heat any volatilized organic chemical remaining in the combustion gas exhausted from the vessel; andd. venting to the atmosphere combustion gas essentially free of said particulates and oxidizable organic chemical.