stirred or blended two vertically positioned phases then form a milky aqueous phase and an oily phase the milky aqueous phase is then extracted and the alkalinity of the extracted aqueous phase is adjusted heavy metals may then be drawn from the alkalinity adjusted milky aqueous phase the oily phase is then allowed to solidify so that it may be burned the following example is presented in order to explain in more detail the process of the present invention this example however does not restrict the breadth of the claimed invention thereto 1000 g of coking plant soil purified from gravel and brickbat was placed in a 1 liter round bottom flask the soil had a moisture content of 10 the solid was heavily soaked with oil and included small coke particles 800 ml of acetic anhydride was added to the soil and the mixture was heated from about 120 u00b0 c to about 130 u00b0 c thereby causing it to boil about 90 ml of a transparent liquid was condensed in a trap provided behind a descending cooler upon examination it was determined that the liquid comprised aqueous acetic acid after a boiling time of 20 minutes and a cooling down to 25 u00b0 c.