news

Discover how mobile soil washing plants provide fast, efficient oil-contaminated soil remediation. Desen Environmental's trailer-mounted systems deploy in 24 hours for on-site TPH treatment.

Oil contamination remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges faced by petroleum-producing regions worldwide. From aging oil fields and refinery sites to leaking underground storage tanks, hydrocarbon-polluted soil requires urgent and effective treatment. Traditional remediation methods often involve excavating and transporting contaminated soil to off-site facilities — a costly and logistically complex process.

The Rise of Mobile Soil Washing Technology

Mobile soil washing plants have transformed the remediation landscape by bringing treatment directly to contaminated sites. These self-contained systems integrate feeding, scrubbing, screening, solid-liquid separation, and water treatment into a single trailer-mounted platform, enabling rapid deployment without permanent infrastructure.

Desen Environmental's DS-MSW series mobile soil washing equipment exemplifies this approach. Each unit is pre-integrated on a standard trailer chassis, arriving on-site and becoming operational within 24 hours. With a processing capacity of 10–15 tons per hour and water recycling rates exceeding 90%, the system delivers both speed and sustainability.

How the Washing Process Removes Oil Contaminants

The mobile washing process uses a combination of physical scrubbing and chemical agents to separate hydrocarbons from soil particles. Contaminated soil enters a rotary drum scrubber where high-intensity friction and impact break down soil aggregates, releasing oil trapped in pore spaces. The slurry then passes through multi-stage screening to classify materials by particle size:

• Coarse fraction (>2mm): Clean gravel and stones, separated early and ready for reuse
• Fine sand (0.15–2mm): Further polished through hydrocyclones and dewatering screens
• Ultra-fine slurry (<0.15mm): Concentrated and dewatered via thickener and filter press

The integrated water treatment module processes all process water, achieving closed-loop recycling that minimizes freshwater consumption. Recovered oil can be collected and sent for resource recovery, adding economic value to the remediation project.

Real-World Results: Abu Dhabi Case Study

Desen Environmental deployed its DS-MSW-100 mobile system at an oil field site in Abu Dhabi, treating approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil-contaminated soil. Despite ambient temperatures exceeding 50°C and challenging desert conditions, the equipment maintained stable operation for over six months, reducing soil TPH levels to below 2,000 mg/kg — compliant with UAE environmental standards. The project also recovered approximately 5,000 tons of crude oil for reuse.

Key Advantages for Project Owners

• No concrete foundation required — deploy on leveled hard ground
• Compact footprint of approximately 400 m² for the complete system
• PLC-based intelligent control with 5G remote monitoring
• Applicable to heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and organic pollutants
• Multi-project reusability: relocate and redeploy across sites

For oil field operators, environmental contractors, and government remediation agencies, mobile soil washing plants represent a practical, cost-effective solution for on-site contaminated soil treatment. The combination of rapid deployment, high processing efficiency, and environmental compliance makes them a strategic choice for modern remediation projects.