A process to extract carbon from hydrophobic waste comprises: combining the hydrophobic waste with an oxide of an active metal to form a storable, moisture-resistant feedstock for high-temperature processing; heating the feedstock in a furnace to yield an effluent gas entraining a carbide of the active metal; cooling the effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal; introducing nitrogen into the cooled effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal, to yield a cyanamide of the active metal and elemental carbon; and acidically hydrolyzing the cyanamide of the active metal to yield a cyanamide compound and a salt of the active metal.

A process to extract carbon from hydrophobic waste comprises: combining the hydrophobic waste with an oxide of an active metal to form a storable, moisture-resistant feedstock for high-temperature processing; heating the feedstock in a furnace to yield an effluent gas entraining a carbide of the active metal; cooling the effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal; introducing nitrogen into the cooled effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal, to yield a cyanamide of the active metal and elemental carbon; and acidically hydrolyzing the cyanamide of the active metal to yield a cyanamide compound and a salt of the active metal.

A process to extract carbon from hydrophobic waste comprises: combining the hydrophobic waste with an oxide of an active metal to form a storable, moisture-resistant feedstock for high-temperature processing; heating the feedstock in a furnace to yield an effluent gas entraining a carbide of the active metal; cooling the effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal; introducing nitrogen into the cooled effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal, to yield a cyanamide of the active metal and elemental carbon; and acidically hydrolyzing the cyanamide of the active metal to yield a cyanamide compound and a salt of the active metal.

A process to extract carbon from hydrophobic waste comprises: combining the hydrophobic waste with an oxide of an active metal to form a storable, moisture-resistant feedstock for high-temperature processing; heating the feedstock in a furnace to yield an effluent gas entraining a carbide of the active metal; cooling the effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal; introducing nitrogen into the cooled effluent gas entraining the carbide of the active metal, to yield a cyanamide of the active metal and elemental carbon; and acidically hydrolyzing the cyanamide of the active metal to yield a cyanamide compound and a salt of the active metal.