Patent ID: 7287933
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: B09C

Abstract:
1. A process for the removal of organic pollutants from soil characterized by a water content ranging from 10% to the saturation limit of the soil, which comprises: (a) mixing of the soil with a lipophylic solvent; (b) removal by decanting or separation of a liquid phase, containing the pollutants and solvent, from a solid phase consisting of the treated soil; (c) recovery of the solvent from the liquid phase obtained in step (b) by distillation and recirculation in step (a); (d) mixing of the solid phase separated in step (c) with water in a ratio which is such as to completely dissolve the residual solvent; (e) separation by decanting of a solid fraction, wherein the solid fraction comprises the soil which was washed by the water in (d), and an aqueous phase saturated with solvent; (f) dewatering of the solid fraction obtained in step (e); and (g) recovery of the solvent from the aqueous phase by evaporation and recycling to step (a).