A method of recovering energy and chemicals from a spent liquor which, after thickening to a dry content of 50-90%, is fed into a reaction chamber (1) in which a plurality of temperature zones are maintained, said method comprising the steps of (a) converting the liquid phase in the spent liquor to a steam phase, (b) thermally decomposing the spent liquor to form gaseous organic substances and solid and/or molten organic and inorganic substances, (c) reducing and (d) oxidizing said substances produced during the thermal decomposition, oxygen or oxygen-containing gas being supplied to the reaction chamber (1) in a controlled amount in order to maintain the reactions, which comprise combustion of organic substances, and a bed of said solid and/or molten substances being formed in a lower temperature zone in the reaction chamber (1). According to the invention said steps are carried out during exposure to low frequency sound.