BIOREMEDIATION IN
PARTS CLEANING
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 BIOREMEDIATION : Definition
Degradation of
organic matter using
microorganisms
(bacteria, fungi & algae)
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally

BIOREMEDIATION Cycle :
bacteria
bacteria reproduce
bacteria
excretes CO2
and water
secretes enzymes
enzymes attack
grease, fats, oils –
which allow the bacteria to
eat the broken down
pieces.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 Bioremediation via Biodegradation
(the breakdown of organic
substances by microscopic
organisms)
 bioremediation is the use of biodegradation to
break down pollutants in soil, air or groundwater.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 BIOREMEDIATION :
Classifications
in situ versus ex
situ
Bioremediation which takes place either in the
or (in situ)
away
natural or original position or location
(ex situ) the natural or original position.
from
(in situ)
(ex situ)
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 BIOREMEDIATION : Applications
Parts Cleaning
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS :
Carbon based contaminants are removed from
repair parts by surfactants.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
1
Contaminants
Enter the
Solution
2
Are
Emulsified
3
4
Then Converted
And Eaten Into H2O and CO2
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SYSTEM Advantages :
Bioremediation is a Natural and Safe
Process.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SYSTEM Advantages :
Bioremediation eliminates the need
for transportation of spent solvents
and other hazardous materials.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SYSTEM Advantages :
 Bioremediation
can remediate
the
contaminants (in
situ) in place,
and does not
generate waste
products.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SYSTEM Advantages :
Bioremediation allows for minimal environmental
impact.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SYSTEM Advantages :
 Bioremediation completely
breaks down contaminants to
innocuous end products.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 SYSTEM Advantages :
Bioremediation is more economical than traditional
technologies.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: How Safe Are Microbes?
Answer: Classified American Type Culture Collection
(ATCC) Class I Organisms are nonpathogenic,
completely safe to use and have no recognized hazard
potential under ordinary conditions of handling.
Answer: This classification is assigned only after extensive
study and review by ATCC and government committees.
Answer: Class I Organisms are subject to unrestricted
distribution by the ATCC, U.S. Department of Health,
Public Health Service and the Toxic Substances Control
Act (TOSCA).
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: How quickly can microbes
breakdown contaminants?
Answer: Once active, the rate at which the microbes can
remediate hydrocarbons can approach 80%
every seven days. Analyses performed on
samples of used surfactant taken from a
bioremediating
parts
washer
operating
consistently show oil and grease levels in the
1,400 parts per million range. BY
COMPARISON, used, non-bioremediating,
aqueous cleaners can average over 20,000 parts
per million of oil and grease.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 Not Just Any Class of Microbe: how it
works
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: How much oil can I put into a
bioremediating parts washer at one
time?
Answer: As with all parts cleaners, excessive greases,
oils and fluids should be disposed of prior to
washing parts and NOT used as a waste oil
dump. That said, most bioremediating parts
washers can handle large, tough, dirty jobs.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: Do microbes improve the
cleaning ability of aqueous
cleaners?
Answer: YES. The bioremediation process that
takes place in the solution frees the
surfactants allowing them to clean and
emulsify even more contaminants.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: In addition to oil, will
bioremediating parts washers clean
other substances?
Answer: Microbes have been successfully used on a variety
of contaminants including the following:
 CRUDE OIL
 OILS
 SOLVENTS
 BTEX
 GREASES
 AMINES
 CREOSOTE
 PHENOLS
 PCP
 FATS
 PNA
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: Do the microbes need to be in
a heated environment to
survive?
Answer: Microbes will slow down their remediation
and reproduction rate but not die at low
temperatures. The microbes work at a
more efficient rate in a warmer
environment and it is a more enjoyable
cleaning experience for the user if the
solutions are heated.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 FACT AND FICTION
Question: Is there anything that could
kill the microbe in a
bioremediating parts washer?
Answer: YES. Any biocides designed to kill microbes,
such as bleach or chemicals that kill living
things like some strong pesticides and rat
poisons.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
 CONCLUSION
 Bioremediation represents the safe,
effective and sustainable method for
parts cleaning.
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally
Thank You
FACT AND FICTION
By: Onofre Ortiz and Thomas W. McNally