Hanover Research Corporation

Charles T Rawlinson

Thomas C Holcombe

Theodore D Trowbridge

This invention is a continuous process combining water evaporation and solvent extraction of contaminated water-wet soil, sediment or sludge, including specifically, but not exclusively Petroleum Refinery 'K' and 'F' wastes as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: K048--Dissolved air flotation (DAF) float; K049--Slop oil emulsion solids; K050--Heat exchanger bundle cleaning sludge; K051-API seaparator sludge; K052--Tank bottoms (leaded); F038--Petroleum refinery primary oil/water/solids separation sludge; F038--Petroleum refinery secondary (emulsified) oil/water/solids separation sludge, comprising the steps of (1) mixing water-wet soil, sediment, with a water-immiscible solvent and dehydrated or partially dehydrated solids from the feed, (2) feeding said mixture through a dehydration operation with concurrent solvent extraction of the contaminant or contaminants into the solvent, (3) separating the solids from the solvent, (4) mixing the separated solids with fresh solvent and dissolving the contaminant or contaminants into the solvent further, (5) repeating steps (3) and (4) as required, (6) separating the waste solids from the water-immiscible solvent, (7) separating the solvent from the contaminant or contaminants, and (8) recycling the water-immiscible solvent separated from the waste solids and the contaminant or contaminants in the continuous process.

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Richmond Hill, NY, United States of America

Charles T Rawlinson