polymeric organic compounds are pyrolyzed to remove them from objects by heating in a first vacuum chamber to render flowable such polymers as are fusible at a temperature below that at which appreciable degradation is initiated . the fused polymer drops by free fall from the first chamber to a second vacuum chamber through a conduit connecting the two without contacting any intervening structure . the second chamber is maintained at a substantially lower temperature , where the polymer resolidifies . upon further heating , polymer remaining in the first chamber is volatilized and withdrawn from the chamber to a water mist scrubber where it is largely trapped . remaining vapors in the scrubber are drawn through a vapor separator to a vent stack . after the combustible volatiles are removed from the first chamber , air is admitted into the chamber to oxidize any residual carbon ash , leaving only the inorganic residue which is easily removable from the objects or materials that were not affected by the pyrolysis action .