Method for removing chemical contaminants from material and apparatus

Abstract

A method for removing petroleum contaminants from larger-size and smaller-size petroleum-bearing earth-like materials using a movable apparatus. The method includes the steps of loading larger-size and smaller-size petroleum-bearing earth-like materials onto the movable apparatus, screening larger-size petroleum-bearing earth-like material from smaller-size petroleum-bearing earth-like material, spraying larger-size petroleum-bearing earth-like materials with an aqueous cleansing solution having a biodegradable emulsifier therein to remove petroleum contaminants therefrom and to substantially cleanse the larger-size earth-like material and discharging substantially cleansed larger-size earth-like material from the movable apparatus, mixing an aqueous cleansing solution having a biodegradable emulsifier therein with smaller-size petroleum-bearing earth-like material to form a slurry, agitating the slurry, washing smaller-size petroleum-bearing earth-like material remaining in the slurry to remove petroleum contaminants therefrom and to substantially cleanse said smaller-size earth-like material, removing substantially cleansed smaller-size earth-like material from aqueous cleansing solution and petroleum contaminants in the slurry, dewatering substantially cleansed smaller-size earth-like material, discharging substantially cleansed smaller-size earth-like material from the movable apparatus, removing petroleum contaminants from aqueous cleansing solution and discharging petroleum contaminants from the movable apparatus.