NOVELTY - The treatment method uses a single cylindrical rotary kiln (1) which is divided into two reaction zones by an annular refractory weir (14). The organic material (12) is first fed into a drying and volatilization zone (13) at 500-600 deg.C, and then passes over the weir into a reforming zone (15) which operates at 600-1000 deg.C. Hot process gas from the first zone is reformed in the second zone, in contact with the hot solids, to form a mixture of synthesis gas and hydrocarbons. The hot gases and solids leave from the outlet end (16) of the kiln.    USE - For pyrolysis and gasification of organic materials, especially wastes.    ADVANTAGE - Environmentally safe, efficient and versatile process for pyrolysis and/or gasification. Can process either primary or secondary (recycled) materials, including petrochemical, polymer or plastics wastes, non-metallic scrap, municipal waste, cellulose-based materials, waste oils and solvents. Can handle materials in solid, liquid or sludge form.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The residence time of the solids in the drying and volatilization zone should be 30-60 minutes: the working bed depth in this zone should be equivalent to about 12-15% of the cross-sectional area of the kiln. The mass flow rate of solids through the kiln is determined by the rotational speed and slope of the kiln, and the height of the weir. A direct-fired primary burner (2) is used to heat the material in the first zone, using oxygen and fuel gas at a ratio of 1.75-10:1. The combustion gases from the burner flow co-currently with the solids and the process gas towards the second zone of the kiln: the temperature in this zone may be controlled by varying the output of the primary burner. The heating of the material in the first zone may also be accomplished by injecting a sub-stoichiometric amount of oxygen into the zone, using an injection lance, so that combustible gases in the zone are burned. A secondary reforming burner (3) may be provided in the second zone of the kiln, using oxygen and a fuel gas at a ratio of 2-10:1. The combustion products from this burner flow countercurrent to the solids flow through the kiln. Again, oxygen may also be injected, at sub-stoichiometric amounts, into this zone to react with combustible process gases. The reforming burner may also be used at a low output to act as an ignition source when oxygen is injected. Preferably, the temperature in the second zone is high enough to reduce residual solid carbonaceous material to char, to smelt residual metal oxides and to vaporize heavy metals. At a reforming zone temperature of 600-650 deg.C, the gas composition should be 15-20% vol. CO, 15-20% vol. hydrogen, 20-25% vol. HC1-2, and 15-20% vol. HC2+ (claimed), where HC1-2 is hydrocarbons with 1 or 2 carbon atoms and HC2+ is hydrocarbons with more than 2 carbon atoms. At a temperature of 650-750 deg.C, the claimed gas composition is 25-35% vol. CO, 25-35% vol. H, 10-14% vol. HC1-2 and 1-3% vol. HC2+, while at 750-1000 deg.C the composition is 35-45% vol. CO, 35-45% vol. H, 2-3% vol. HC1-2 and less than 0.5% vol. HC2+. The pressure in the kiln may be maintained by recirculating cleaned process gas under pressure, and the kiln should be preheated and purged of free oxygen before the organic material is fed into it.    An ADDITIONAL CLAIM is included, for a two-zone rotary kiln apparatus used to thermally process organic material to produce synthesis gas and hydrocarbons, as detailed above.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a diagrammatic cross-section of the rotary kiln.    Rotary kiln (1)    primary burner (2)    reforming burner (3)    organic material feed (12)    drying/volatilization zone (13)    annular refractory weir (14)    reforming zone (15)    solids and gas outlet. (16)