A process and an apparatus for converting
solid organic materials into carbon or
activated carbon. The
processing of
solid organic materials is
oxygen-free and wholly under endothermic condition. The apparatus comprises a
pressure vessel (1),
thermal insulation with protective cladding for
pressure vessel (2), a perforated or non-perforated rotary drum (3), a sealed dish end (4), a rotating shaft (5), a geared motor with belt or
chain drive (6), a steam super heater (7) for generating
superheated steam, at least one
inlet valve (8) for regulating the super heated steam, at least one feed
pipe (9), tilting or swivel support (10), at least one cylindrical roller (11), an open or close door end (12), a feeding or removal port (13), a connecting chute (14), at least one pressure
safety valve (15), a gas exit
pipe (16), at least one outlet valve (17), a gas
treatment unit (18) for treating the generated reaction gases, at least one pressure gauge (19) and at least one temperature indicator (20). The
pressure vessel is tilted along with its accessories supported on a tilting or swivel support and
solid organic materials are feeded into the rotary drum and then realigned. Gas or steam is feeded inside the pressure vessel till the entire air inside the pressure vessel is purged out and thereafter
superheated steam continuously feeded into the rotary drum. The rotary drum is constantly rotated by geared motor and generated reaction gases are evacuated from the pressure vessel to the gas
treatment unit wherein the organic solid materials are converted into carbon or
activated carbon.