Abstract: A mobile hazardous waste characterization system having a top driven rotary kelly bar and drill bit in conjunction with a non-rotatable casing surrounding the kelly bar in which the casing and waste contamination sensing probes affixed thereto are supported by the top drive and are moved into and out of the site with the kelly bar and drill bit. The sensors preferably are optical soil contamination probes affixed to the casing to qualitatively and quantitatively determine soil contaminants and monitor remediation progress in situ at a subsurface soil characterization and treatment location. Soil gas sampling and a solid soil core sample removal device may be integrated with the optical contaminant sensing for accurate site characterization and simultaneous remediation thereof.

Abstract: A hazardous waste site remediation process for decontamination of petrochemical and other toxic waste containing sites comprises in situ conversion of the site to a self contained process reactor which is then selectively operated by feeding a variety of treatment reagents thereto through a network of feed conduits and removing contaminants through removal conduits which collectively bring the contaminated materials to a collection area in the reactor where they can then be further treated or removed. A mobile trenching machine converts the site to a reactor by simultaneously placing contaminant impermeable walls while processing excavated materials such as by adding reactor reagents thereto and then immediately returning the processed materials to the location from which they were excavated in the site. Hydrocarbons or other useful by-products such as precious metals may be recovered from the soil.

Abstract: A soil surface remediation apparatus useful for decontamination of oil or chemical spill sites and toxic waste containing sites comprises a soil treatment apparatus mounted on a mobile trenching machine tractor which excavates trenches in a contaminated site to remove contaminated soil to the surface apparatus where the soil is decontaminated and is immediately replaced into the excavated trench in a continuous operation. Hydrocarbons or other useful by-products such as precious metals may be recovered from the soil. Both deep trenching and shallow trenching embodiments are disclosed.