Apparatus and method for bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated objects

An apparatus for continuous bioremediation of a hydrocarbon-contaminated object comprising:

• (i) a washer basin for continuously cleaning said hydrocarbon-contaminated object, said washer basin having means for introducing and recycling a microbe cleaning solution comprising microorganisms of the genus selected from the group consisting of Achromobacter, Actinobacter, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Nocardia, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas and mixtures thereof, for washing said hydrocarbon-contaminated object, means for draining microbe cleaning solution containing hydrocarbons from said washer basin into a biochamber reservoir and means for screening said microbe cleaning solution upon entry into said biochamber reservoir;
• and
• (ii) said biochamber reservoir having a means for temperature control between about 90.degree. to 112.degree. F. to maximize microbial growth in said microbe cleaning solution for degrading hydrocarbons in said solution, means for aerating said microbe cleaning solution, means for agitating and circulating said microbe cleaning solution, an outlet means to direct said microbe cleaning solution to a plurality of filters for filtering said microbe cleaning solution to remove sediment of less than 10 microns, an inlet means to return said microbe cleaning solution from said filters to said biochamber reservoir or to said washer basin and then to said reservoir;
• means for trapping and removing sediment from said microbe cleaning solution, and means for supporting said washer basin and biochamber reservoir.