An environmentally benign process for remediating contaminated matter includes contact with a lixiviant. The lixiviant contains a chelating agent which chemically reacts with a selected contaminant, forming a chelate soluble within the lixiviant and thus extracting the selected contaminant from the matter. The lixiviant, including the chelate, is separated from the particulate matter, and chemically treated to demobilize the chelate. The selected contaminant is separated from the lixiviant and sent for disposal or further processing. The remidiated matter is also sent for disposal or further processing.