A system for cleaning hydrocarbons from a part, the system comprising a biodegradable, non-toxic, non-caustic, nonflammable, oil dispersant cleaning and degreasings fluid, a parts washer including a tank for containing said fluid and a basin for receiving the part, a conduit assembly, a pump for pumping said fluid from said tank through said conduit assembly and into contact with the part within said basin, a flowpath defined between said basin and said tank through which said fluid flows between said basin and said tank, and microorganisms within said parts washer, said microorganisms at least partially flowing with and substantially sustained within said fluid, said fluid being non-toxic to said microorganisms, whereby the microorganisms biodegrade the hydrocarbons while retained within said tank. view more

The system of claim 5, and said parts washer further including a filter interposed within said flowpath.

The system of claim 5, and said flowpath being the sole flow path for fluid flowing from said basin to said tank, said parts washer further including a filter interposed within said flowpath.

The system of claim 10, and substantially all hydrocarbons cleaned from a part in the basin and substantially all fluid flowing from the basin encounter said filter in route to said tank.

The system of claim 11, wherein hydrocarbons and fluid pass through said filter, while particulate matter is trapped by said filter.

A method of washing parts comprising the steps of:</claim-text> (a) placing at least one part in a first chamber; (b) circulating a cleaning fluid from a second chamber to the first chamber to wash the surfaces of the part in contact with the fluid, cleaning fluid removing organic matter; (c) passing the cleaning fluid that had contacted the part through a porous medium; (d) draining the cleaning liquid from the first chamber into the second chamber; (e) removing organic matter in the cleaning fluid in the second chamber wherein the step of removing the organic matter from the fluid comprises biologically degrading the organic matter; and (f) re-circulating the cleaning liquid from the second chamber to the first chamber to be available for washing parts. view more

The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is surfactant-based.

The method of claim 3, wherein the cleaning liquid is water-based.

A method of removing hydrocarbons from a part and disposing of the hydrocarbons, the method comprising the steps of:</claim-text> suspending, in a biodegradable, non-caustic, non-flammable, oil dispersant, cleaning and degreasing fluid, organisms to which the fluid is non-toxic; providing a parts washer having at least a basin for receiving the part and a tank below the basin for containing the fluid; bringing the part into contact with the fluid containing the microorganisms; allowing the fluid to remove the hydrocarbons from the part and flow into the tank; and allowing the microorganisms within the fluid to biodegrade the hydrocarbons. view more

Method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:</claim-text> maintaining the fluid at a desired temperature, wherein a heater heats the reservoir.

Method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:</claim-text> filtering the fluid after the bringing step.

A method of cleaning hydrocarbons from an object, said method comprising the steps of introducing hydrocarbon biodegrading microorganisms into a biodegradable, non-caustic, non-flammable, oil dispersant cleaning and degreasing fluid that is non-toxic to the microorganisms, wherein the fluid is contained within a washing apparatus including a tank, a basin, a pump and conduit assembly, and a flowpath defined between the basin and the tank through which the fluid flows from the basin into the tank, bringing the part into contact with the fluid and the microorganisms in the basin, removing hydrocarbons from the part, draining the fluid with the hydrocarbons and microorganisms contained therein from the basin to the tank and retaining the hydrocarbons within the fluid in the tank while the microorganisms biodegrade the hydrocarbons. view more

Method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:</claim-text> positioning a filter within the flowpath.

A method of cleaning hydrocarbons from a part in a parts washer, the method including the steps of:</claim-text> exposing the part within a basin to a biodegradable, non-caustic, non-flammable oil dispersant cleaning and degreasing fluid to clean the carbons from the part, providing a flowpath for the fluid between the basin and a tank, wherein microorganisms, to which the fluid is non-toxic, are disposed within the fluid for biodegrading hydrocarbons associated with the part, allowing the fluid with the hydrocarbons contained therein to flow into the tank, and retaining the hydrocarbons within the tank for sufficient time for the microorganisms to substantially biodegrade the hydrocarbons. view more

The method of claim 13, wherein the heating step includes a step of heating the fluid within the tank.

The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of:</claim-text> measuring the level of the fluid, wherein the heating step is responsive to the step of measuring the level.

The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of:</claim-text> measuring the temperature of the fluid, wherein the heating step is responsive to the step of measuring the temperature.

The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of:</claim-text> measuring the level of the fluid, wherein the heating step is responsive to the step of measuring the level.

The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of interposing a filter within the flowpath.

A system for cleaning hydrocarbons from a part, comprising a biodegradable, non-toxic, non-caustic, nonflammable oil dispersant cleaner and degreaser fluid, a parts washer including a tank for containing the fluid and a basin for receiving the part, a pump and conduit assembly for pumping the fluid from the tank into contact with the part within the basin, a flowpath defined between the basin and the tank through which the fluid flows from the basin back to the tank, and microorganisms within the parts washer for biodegrading the hydrocarbons: the microorganisms substantially sustained within and flowing with the fluid; the parts washer further includes a heater for heating the fluid; and means for controlling said heater to maintain the fluid approximately at a desired temperature and for disabling said heater as the fluid drops to below a desired level in the tank. view more

The combination of claim 1, wherein the heater is at least partially immersed in the fluid.

The combination of claim 1, wherein the heater is constructed and arranged to add heat to the fluid while the fluid is disposed within the tank.

The combination of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling said heater includes a level sensor cooperating with the fluid in the tank and said heater for deactivating said heater.

The combination of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling said heater includes a thermostat cooperating with the fluid and said heater for activating and deactivating said heater.

The combination of claim 7, wherein said means for controlling said heater further includes a level sensor cooperating with the fluid in the tank and said heater for deactivating said heater.

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