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Abstract

The invention comprises a process for treating contaminated earth with different organic and inorganic substances, such as for example benzene, toluene, naphthalene, phenols and other mono- and polycyclic or aliphatic oxygen-, nitrogen- and sulphur-containing hydrocarbon compounds as well as simple and complex inorganic or organic salts. The invention concerns a combination of the following processing stages: (a) homogenization and comminution of the contaminated earth with an addition of treated recycled water to obtain a pumpable suspension; (b) treatment of the suspension in a single- or multi-stage extraction process in counter-current with warm or hot recycled water according to the principle of increased dissolving power at high temperatures (over 100.degree. C.) and at the corresponding pressure above the vaporization point; (c) drying of the suspension taken from the extraction systems until a residual humidity of less than 30% by weight approximately is obtained; and separating the dissolved substances contained in the recycled water (extraction agent) by cooling according to the principle of reduced dissolving power.

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First Claim