TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The overhead portion removal step further includes (i) condensing at least a portion of the vaporized AlCl3 from the overhead portion, (ii) separating via condensation the vaporized hydrocarbons in the overhead portion into a first fraction of hydrocarbons having a vapor pressure below a desired value and a second fraction of hydrocarbons having a vapor pressure above the desired value, (iii) returning the condensed AlCl3 and the first fraction of hydrocarbons to the reactor, and (iv) recovering the second fraction of hydrocarbons. The steps (i) and (ii) occur in a single reflux condenser (27) maintained at 50-176degreesC. The residue of step (i) is subjected to solid residue treatment to recover carbon black. Isolation valves are provided to control the feeding of feedstock to the reactor, the removal of the reactor discharge portion from the reactor into the supplemental reactor, the introduction of the condensed AlCl3 from the recycle catalyst condenser to the reactor, and the removal of residue from the supplemental reactor. The reactor can be operated in low reactor pressure mode, partial vacuum mode, or high reaction pressure mode. A purge gas consisting of nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, methane, and/or natural gas maybe further provided to the reactor. Preferred Condition: The volumetric ratio of catalyst to feedstock is 0.5:1-5:1.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The catalyst may further comprise a cocatalyst consisting of chloride salt or a mixture of chloride salts of the alkali and alkaline earth metals. The cocatalyst preferably comprises magnesium chloride (MgCl2).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The waste organic materials consist of addition polymers and/or condensation polymers. They include used rubber (such as used tire rubber), waste plastic, used oils and/or lubricants. They can also include aliphatic, aromatic species, or species containing both aliphatic and aromatic substituents.