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The industrial parts washer has been around since 1954. This type of cleaning device, commonly found in engine repair and machine repair shops, removes grease, dirt, and oil from engine and machine components that have been used for an extended period of time. In order to clean parts effectively, the parts washer would typically use industrial solvents to cut through heavy grease and grime. This means that the workers using parts washers are potentially exposed to the solvents’ hazardous effects:
• Skin - may cause drying, cracking or burning
• Lungs - high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may cause headaches, dizziness, numbness and other central nervous system side effects
• Eyes – since splashing is a risk, eye protection is a must. 

Workers using solvent-based parts washers are required to wear personal protection equipment including gloves, respirators, aprons and eye protection to avoid risk of injury and long term health exposure. Due to their chemical nature, parts washer solvents are not environmentally friendly. Over time, solvents will lose their cleaning effectiveness and need to be replaced. The removal of old solvents may cause environmental damage if not disposed of properly. Many repair shops hire outside services to pick up used parts washer solvents and replace them with a fresh supply. The Move To Aqueous-Based Parts Washers Due to environmental concerns and increasing state regulations, aqueous-based parts washers have moved to the forefront of the industry. The two most common types are:
• High alkaline system. The cleaning solution formula has a high pH rating (10-12) which can effectively clean as well as solvent-based washers.
• Bio-remediation system. This system uses living microorganisms to help break down oil, grease and grime at a neutral pH level of 6.8 – 7.2. These aqueous-based systems offer several advantages over the solvent-based parts washer:
• Health and Safety – there are no hazardous chemicals to transport, store and use.
• No VOCs – no toxic fumes are emitted which means there is no long term danger of exposure to high levels of volatile organic compounds.
• Higher Cleaning Consistency – depending on the type of aqueous cleaning agent being used, aqueous-based parts washers may offer a longer life and provide cleaning effectiveness on par with solvent-based parts washers.
• Minimal Waste Disposal - once the aqueous cleaning fluid has been saturated and contaminated with oil and grease, the unit needs to be skimmed or drained to remove the contaminants. Only the contaminants need to be disposed of appropriately. With solvent-based systems, all of the solution needs to be replaced periodically.

Cleaning with Microorganisms
The newest type of aqueous-based parts washer uses living microorganisms to help break down oil, grease and grime. The Bio-Circle® Parts Cleaning System uses bio-remediation in the form of microorganisms that encapsulate and break down the oil and grease hydrocarbons.

Here’s how it works:
1. Oil, grease and grime are lifted off the machine part by a surfactant-based cleaning solution.
2. Contaminants pass through the primary screens into the parts washer basin, where microorganisms break down the oil, grease and grime.
3. The by-product is H20 and CO2. No hazardous chemical waste or by-product is generated during this process.
4. Since the microorganism-based cleaning solution is self-renewing, it only requires periodic replenishment and never needs replacement. The solution always maintains its cleaning power. Unlike solvent-based parts washers, the Bio-Circle® system does not require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). High-alkaline systems recommend the use of PPE due to alkaline levels in the 10-12 range.

Jay Leno was so intrigued by this system that he asked for a unit to be sent to his huge auto garage in Hollywood. View his demo.

Military Base Cleans Weaponry
Daniel Boone of the Fort Drum military base in Watertown, NY, uses the BIO-CIRCLE® parts washer to clean military weapons that are used for training on the base. He typically cleans anywhere from 100-500 weapon pieces per week. The base has recently switched from a solvent-based system to the BIO-CIRCLE® system due to its environmentally friendly features. In addition, having to wear thick protective gloves with the solvent-based system made it difficult to handle and clean the small intricate parts of the weaponry. The BIO-CIRCLE® system does not require the use of gloves due to its use of the bio-remediation cleaning solution.
View Fort Drum Video

Consider a Parts Washer Change
With new technology readily available, it may be time to retire last century’s parts washer solvent. Considering all of the safety and environmental benefits that the new aqueous-based parts washers offer, the decision should be an easy one to make. The Bio-Circle® Parts Cleaning System is ideal for light-  to medium-duty cleaning of carbon-based oils and greases. These units are not intended for cleaning of heavy synthetic based grime nor should they be used with concentrated solutions of heavy chemicals. Ideal for auto dealer maintenance departments, fleet repair, military bases, tool and die shops, manufacturing plants, trade schools, etc. All Bio-Circle® units are SARA and TCSA compliant.