Method and assembly for processing by heating metal reagents chips, such as magnesium contaminated with oil, to obtain an external carbon coating on the chips.

The invention relates to a method and an assembly for processing of metal chips. It relates to a waste treatment method, particularly reactive metals chips, such as magnesium or magnesium alloys, contaminated with oil, characterized in that the chips are heated in a furnace (1 ) at a temperature close to the oil boiling temperature at or above this temperature but below the metal melting temperature, so that the oil evaporates and an outer carbon coating is formed on the chips. Application to the recovery of magnesium turnings and its alloys.