This paper reports on the preliminary results of an experimental study to compare two methods for extracting energetic compounds from soils. A number of military industrial sites have soils contaminated with energetic compounds (explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics). One decontamination method being considered is solvent extraction using acetone as the solvent liquid. Bench scale experimental results are reported on removing 2,4 dinitrotoluene (DNT) from sand and clay samples via packed bed or stirred tank methods of extraction. The experiments show that either approach is effective in removing the energetics. However, the stirred tank method appears to require a shorter contact time and less acetone per mass of treated soil than the packed bed method. The experiments also consider the effects of aging on spiked samples and the effects of conditioning the samples as dry, wetted in water, or wetted in acetone on the effectiveness of the extraction. The results here are preliminary but may be used to guide future studies.