Soil washing process using polymeric sorbents

A process for removing a hazardous or toxic contaminant from a contaminated material, the process comprising the steps of:

• converting the contaminated material into an initial slurry;
• dividing the initial slurry into a sand slurry having said contaminant and a slimes slurry having said contaminant;
• agitating the sand slurry;
• contacting the slimes slurry during a first time period with a polymeric adsorbent to allow said adsorbent to adsorb said contaminant from said slimes slurry;
• then
• separating the polymeric adsorbent from the slimes slurry after said first time period;
• adding the polymeric adsorbent separated from the slimes slurry to the sand slurry;
• then
• stirring the sand slurry and said separated polymeric adsorbent for a second time period to allow said adsorbent to adsorb said contaminant from said sand slurry;
• then
• separating the polymeric adsorbent from the sand slurry after said second time period;
• then
• exposing the sand slurry to the action of a flotation cell;
• removing concentrate from the flotation cell;
• exposing the removed concentrate to the polymeric adsorbent separated from the sand slurry for a third time period to allow said adsorbent to adsorb said contaminant from said concentrate;
• then
• separating the polymeric adsorbent from the concentrate after said third time period;
• and
• thermally regenerating at least a portion of the polymeric adsorbent separated from the concentrate.