Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for treating an oily substrate, including a mixture comprising water and oily material or a mixture comprising water, solids and oily material as components, and wherein such treatment comprises contacting the oily substrate with a solvent for the oily material, a comminuting surfactant, and a flocculant, wherein said solvent for said oily material ranges in solubility in water from sparingly soluble to substantially water insoluble, to produce at least one phase differentiating interface and to thereby render one or more components of said oily substrate separable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for treating an oily substrate, including a mixture comprising water and oily material or a mixture comprising water, solids and oily material as components, and wherein such treatment comprises contacting the oily substrate with a solvent for the oily material, and wherein the solvent for the oily material ranges in solubility in water from sparingly soluble to substantially water insoluble, in the presence of an added comminuting and dispersing surfactant, to produce by such contacting at least one phase differentiating interface, and to thereby render one or more of the components of the oily substrate separable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for treating soil and sludge for removal of contaminants in contact with the soil or sludge. More particularly, this invention relates to a process where contaminants such as inorganic contaminants such as metal or metal salts or organic contaminants such as PCBs are removed from water-wet soil and sludge. In particular, this invention relates to a process for treating or cleaning a contaminated water-wet solid containing mixture by contacting the contaminated water-wet mixture with a solvent, the solvent containing a comminuting surfactant. The solvent used is a solvent for the contaminant and is sparingly soluble in water. The purpose of adding a comminuting surfactant to the solvent is to form a dispersed mixture of the solids, contaminants, and water whereby the contaminants are extractable into the solvent. The solvent containing the contaminants is easily separated from the solids and then the solvents and contaminants are separated and the solvent is reused.