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include trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, toluene, benzene, mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone and other hydrocarbons. While chemical solvents are effective at removing grease and other fluids from metal parts, many are harmful to workers and the environment. For example, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene—two commonly used industrial solvents— are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) linked to a number of health problems, including an increased risk of cancer. In sharp contrast, aqueous cleaning solutions, which use water as the primary solvent, contain no VOCs. Unlike many petroleum-based solvents, aqueous cleaners are nonflam- mable and overall, are less toxic than solvents. Commonly used methods of aqueous cleaning include: • Immersion cleaning: Parts are immersed in a cleaning solution and some form of agitation and/or heat is added to supply the energy needed to remove contaminants. • A utomated washing: A high-pressure spray delivers more mechanical action to help remove soils from parts. • Ultr asonics: A combination of water, detergent and high-frequency sound waves create bubbles that help to dissolve and displace particles from parts. Although their cleaning methods differ from solvent- based systems, aqueous cleaners have proven to be just as effective. And because they're safer to use, aqueous cleaners offer a number of other advantages that can benefit the bottom line. In one example, Inner-Tite Corp., a manufacturer of tamper-resistant security products for utility company devices, switched from a vapor-degreasing parts cleaning process to an aqueous cleaning system. The Holden, Massachusetts-based company was able to eliminate its use of trichloroethylene (TCE) entirely. The factory became safer because the employees no longer were exposed to TCE—a suspected carcinogen—and the company saved nearly $2,500 per year in TCE purchasing costs. By eliminating the annual use of 2,675 pounds of TCEs, Inner-Tite no longer had to report its TCE usage to state environmental authorities, saving an additional $1,100 in annual regulatory reporting fees. While reducing air emis- sions below the threshold for a minor-source generator, removing TCE from the facility also reduced the amount of time dedicated to preparing for emergency response and complying with OSHA and environmental regulations. Bio-Remediation Bio-remediation is another twist on aqueous cleaning. The bio-remediation process has naturally occurred for millions of years, and has been recently harnessed to provide a safe, effective alternative to solvent-based cleaning systems. In the bio-remediation process, live microorganisms within aqueous cleaning fluids break down oil, grease and other organic contaminants. Typically, the process takes During bio-remediation, live microorganisms within aqueous cleaning fluids break down oil, grease and other organic contaminants. place in a parts-cleaning sink, and the bio-remediating fluids require heat for optimal performance. In much the same way that humans live by eating, breathing and producing waste, the microorganisms consume and digest the contaminants and convert them to harmless byproducts—mostly water and carbon dioxide. "It's a very simple chemical equation," explains Patrick LaPointe, Vice President of Research and Development for Walter Surface Technologies Inc., which makes Bio-Circle aqueous cleaning products. "The microorganisms break the chemical bonds in the complex hydrocarbon chain, they derive some energy from the process, and the molecules take on a simpler chemical form as water and carbon dioxide. It's a totally natural process." By converting oil, grease and other contaminants into harmless byproducts, bio-remediation can help companies reduce their chemical-waste footprint—and not just on the factory floor. Bio-remediation has been used to help clean up large-scale environmental accidents, including the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, which discharged nearly 5 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. PRODUCTS FINISHING — PFonline.com 25 THE VOICE OF FINISHING 80 YEARS PARTS CLEANING