a carrier gas containing carbon monoxide is introduced into conduit 10 from conduit 10 the char and carrier gas enter reactor 12 through opening 14 in the covered cylindrical chamber 15 of reactor 12 oxygen or preferrably air is introduced continuously and simultaneously into conduit 16 and enters reactor 12 through opening 18 the carbon monoxide and oxygen react in reaction zone 20 contained within reactor 12 although air is the preferred source of oxygen the oxygen may be supplied from any source of oxygen such as a gas stream containing gaseous oxygen such as air or a flue gas enriched with air or oxygen centrifugal force causes the char to spiral inside reactor 12 and form an outer spiralling vortex in such a manner that the char is confined along the wall of the reactor 12 while the gases are caused to separate from the char the char flows from the covered chamber 15 of the reactor towards conical portion 22 of the reactor and is removed from the reactor through opening 24 located at the smaller diameter end of conical portion 22 from opening 24 the char flows into conduit 26 gases substantially separated from the char are continuously removed from reactor 12 through opening 28 in conduit 30 the positioning of conduit 30 and opening 28 enables the formation of an inner spiralling vortex which is.