the present application discloses a method and apparatus for purging oxygen from a sealed container interior and a purge substance used in such method . the method is exemplified herein in an improved batch process and apparatus for the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon containing material in a sealed reactor interior . according to the present invention the improved batch process may comprise , 1 ) loading the hydrocarbon containing material into and sealing the reactor , 2 ) purging or expelling oxygen from said reactor , and 3 ) heating said reactor to a predetermined temperature so as to obtain decomposition products , the improvement residing in the purging step including loading the reactor with an oxyphilic solution prior to sealing and heating the interior of the sealed reactor to a predetermined temperature to induce the oxyphilic solution to drive oxygen out of the interior of the container through said gas evacuation component . the purge substance may be for example , an oxyphilic solution as described herein . using the method of the present invention , material such as rubber , vinyl - polymers , styrene - polymers , ethylene - polymers , synthetic fibers , domestic waste , biomedical waste , animal waste and vegetation or any other type of hydrocarbon containing material and mixtures thereof may be efficiently processed .