To provide a method for operating an apparatus for treating aluminum chips containing water and oil, which inhibits white smoke from flowing out to the outside of the apparatus, and prevents the emanation of pyrolysis gases that are harmful to human bodies and have a danger of inflammation.

A pyrolysis furnace receives a raw material such as aluminum chips containing water and oil, heats the raw material, transports it, and discharges the pyrolysis gases containing water vapor, oil vapor and hydrocarbon gases, and the heat-treated aluminum chips; and comprises a kiln 33 and an induction heating coil 34. A treated-substance-discharging means discharges the aluminum chips after having been heat-treated, sucks the pyrolysis gases, liquidizes some of the gases or dissolves some of the gases into water, and discharges them; and comprises a discharge screw 37, a paddle screw 41 and a storage hopper 42. The thermal decomposition method comprises the steps of: introducing nitrogen gas into a kiln; and controlling a gauge pressure in the kiln so as to be approximately equal to or lower than the atmospheric pressure by a gas suction force of a blower 56.

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