TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The catalyst comprises fly ash.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Reactor: The ribbonchannel reactor of the process (P') further comprises several low flighting mounted on the first heated surface, such that the first heated surface, the second heated surface and the low flighting define a substantially spiral ribbonchannel, through which the feed material flows, and the flowing form in the ribbonchannel is a substantially spiral ribbon comprising the feed material; and the viscous shear apparatus comprises an extruder. The ribbonchannel reactor further comprises a manifold (136) for collecting the vapor fraction, and a condenser for (140) condensing at least a portion of the vapor fraction. Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus further comprises: a device for collecting and for condensing at least a portion of the vapor fraction, in which the device for condensing includes a condenser operated at 130-180 degrees F (54-82 degrees C). The ribbonchannel reactor in the apparatus comprises a single heating zone; or at least two zones of sequentially increasing temperature. The temperature of the feed composition increases as the feed composition passes through the ribbonchannel reactor from the proximal portion to the distal portion. The viscous shear apparatus heats the feed composition to 460-600 degrees F (236-316 degrees C), and is adapted for softening but not decomposing the feed composition fed from the feed port, such that substantially all of the softening results from heat generated by mechanical shear in the viscous shear apparatus; and comprises a single screw extruder. The inner heated hollow cylinder has an outer radius, the outer heated hollow cylinder has an inner radius, and the ratio of the outer radius to the inner radius is 0.85-0.98, and/or the outer radius and the inner radius differ by 0.25-1.5 inch (0.63-3.8 cm), when the outer diameter is 12-36 inches (about 30.5-91.5 cm); and the low height flighting is disposed between the inner heated hollow cylinder and the outer heated hollow cylinder. The low height flighting comprises several spirally oriented flights extending outwardly from the outer surface of the inner heated hollow cylinder, and the flights have a pitch of 2-10 inches and the pitch decreases from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the ribbonchannel reactor (preferably a substantially constant pitch of 4-10 inches). The ribbonchannel reactor comprises electrical resistance heating elements. The low flighting has an operational clearance from the outer heated hollow cylinder of 0.01-0.025 inches.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The process further involves: softening the feed composition in a viscous shear apparatus that heats the feed composition to 460-600 degrees F (236-316 degrees C), in which substantially all of the softening results from heat generated by mechanical shear and substantially no decomposition of the feed composition occurs during the softening, prior to the flowing; compacting the feed composition when provided in a low bulk density form to reduce content of air and/or moisture, maintaining the feed composition in a reduced oxygen atmosphere, removing moisture from the feed composition, removing at least one non-polymeric contaminant from the feed composition, and/or removing air from the feed composition and comminuting the feed composition; adding a catalyst to the feed composition during the flowing, forming, rotating and/or heating; and/or removing and condensing at least a portion of the vapor. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.