A method of extraction of a liquid hydrocarbon fraction from carbonaceous waste feedstock. Waste material is slurried, by grinding or comminution of same into a substantially uniform stream of ground waste material. Fluid would be added as required to supplement the ground waste to yield a slurry of desirable parameters - the fluid used would be primarily liquid effluent fraction recovered from previous operation of the method. Feedstock slurry is placed into a pressurized heat transfer reactor where it is maintained at temperature and pressure for a predetermined period of time. On discharge from the heat transfer reactor the processed emulsion is separated into liquid hydrocarbon fraction, liquid effluent fraction and solid waste fraction. The method can be used in batch or continuous feeding modes. The useable waste stream for the method is ample and diverse - resulting in a substantial source of recovered hydrocarbon fluids. A novel heat transfer reactor design is also disclosed.
