Solvent compositions for removing petroleum residue from a substrate and methods of use thereof

An environmentally friendly method of cleaning a substrate comprising:

• applying a biodegradable solvent composition, from about 1 to about 20 minutes at a temperature ranging from about 10° C. to about 50° C., on a petroleum residue containing substrate thereby forming an aqueous sludge, wherein the solvent composition has a pH of about 7;
• filtering the aqueous sludge and thus separating insoluble contaminates;
• and
• preparing the solvent composition for recycling or disposal comprising at least one of:
• separating the solvent composition from the residue, or solubilizing, suspending, or
• entraining the residue in the solvent composition after the residue is removed from the substrate,
• wherein the solvent composition comprises:
• from about 30% to about 60% by weight % of a biodiesel;
• from 40% to 60% by weight of an aromatic ester selected from the group consisting of methyl benzoic acid ester, ethyl benzoic acid ester, n-propyl benzoic acid ester, isobutyl benzoic acid ester, n-butyl benzoic acid ester, tert-butyl benzoic acid ester, isomers of pentyl benzoic acid ester, isopropyl benzoic acid ester, and combinations thereof;
• about 0-10% by weight of diethylene glycol ether;
• about 0-20% by weight of a cyclic terpene or terpenoid;
• and
• a corrosion inhibitor.