Abstract: The inventive process involves the treatment of oil spills on a water or a solid surface. Once an oil spill has occurred, the oil spill is contained into a certain area. There after, the oil is sprinkled or spread upon with an adsorbent material which has a tendency to soak up the oil and maintain the same in its interstices created by a mass of particles. The particles do not allow the oil to integrate within its composition. Once the mass of oil and adsorbent material has been established, the mass may be recovered by removing the mass from the surface of the water or from a solid surface. Thereafter the mass is transported to a recovery system where the oil is removed or recovered from the mass by squeezing or pressing. The method also includes the step of collecting vapors that are generated by the spilled oil. There after, the adsorbent material may be used again in another oil spill after drying.