Decontamination process comprises contacting the contaminated material with formaldehyde-casein or -caseinate. The contaminant is mineral oil, heavy hydrocarbon, industrial acid or alkali. Pref. the particle size distribution of the formaldehyde casein is: at least 57.7% of the particles are more than 200 microns, and no more than 1.5% are less than 71 microns. USE/ADVANTAGE - Used to absorb esp. mineral oil from water e.g. seawater, footpaths and earth. The granular material allows the heavy hydrocarbon etc. to be removed into a form where it can easily be handled. The formaldehyde-casein(ate) is produced by passing formaldehyde into casein(ate) from fresh quark cheese. The process is more economical than burning contaminated earth etc..