Inert thermal decomposition methods and systems

A method, comprising:

• providing a container having two ports and partially filled with a material to be decomposed,
• filling a containment environment with a first oxygen-free inert gas at a positive pressure that is greater than an ambient pressure of an environment surrounding the containment environment;
• positioning the container in the containment environment to dispose the two ports above the material wherein a free volume is defined between the two ports and the material;
• circulating, while the container is in the containment environment, a second oxygen-free inert gas through the free volume via the two ports to remove moisture from the material wherein the second oxygen-free inert gas fills the free volume;
• heating the container in the containment environment with the second oxygen-free inert gas filling the free volume to subject the material to pyrolysis, wherein the material decomposes into gaseous products, liquid products, and solid products;
• removing, via the two ports, the gaseous products during the step of heating;
• and
• cooling the container in the containment environment to reduce temperatures of the liquid products and the solid products below flash-point temperatures thereof.