Microbial contamination of stored hydrocarbon fuels and its control

Abstract

The major microbial problem in the petroleum refining industry is contamination of stored products, which can lead to loss of product quality, formation of sludge and deterioration of pipework and storage tanks, both in the refinery and at the end-user. Three major classes of fuel are discussed in this article -gasoline, aviation kerosene and diesel, corresponding to increasingly heavy petroleum fractions. The fuel that presents the most serious microbiological problems is diesel. The many microorganisms that have been isolated from hydrocarbon fuel systems are listed. The conditions required for microbial growth and the methods used to monitor and to control this activity are discussed. The effects of various fuel additives, including biocides, are considered.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion in dairy effluent

“…Steel structures, tanks, pipes and components of the pipeline like steel valves; pipeline accessories exposed to diary effluent are affected by corrosion. Industrial effluents containing dissolved oxygen, suspended particles and the pH of the solution are the key factors that influence corrosion Gaylarde et al, 1999;Gaylarde, 1989;Buck, et al, 1996;Koch, et al, 2001;Birgitta, et al, 1999;Ternstrom et al, 1993;Kumar et al, 1998). In the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of dairy effluent, collected from Aavin locally available milk processing company, on mild steel corrosion.…”

Isolation and characterization of petroleum product emulsifying Pseudomonas strains from a generating set fuel tank

“…Microbial contamination of stored hydrocarbon fuels has been reported in the literature (Gaylarde et al, 1999;Yoshida et al, 2005;Klofutar and Golob, 2007). Much attention has been paid to screening for potential biosurfactant-producing microorganisms in recent years (Desai and Banat, 1997;Dieter et al, 2005).…”

Effects of microbiological contamination in the quality of biodiesel fuels

“…The necessary nutrients are provided mainly from the fuel hydrocarbons and secondly from the additives contained in it. It has been demonstrated that the middle distillates -aviation and diesel fuel -are more prone to microbial growth (Gaylarde et al, 1999;Dzięgielewski et al, 2009) since the hydrocarbon chains in the range of C10-C18 are readily utilized as carbon source from microorganisms. Although distillation processes "sterilize" the fuel, however water, dust and microorganisms can easily enter through the tankage and fuel transport system.…”

“…Water is essential for microbial growth and proliferation. Consequently, microbes concentrate at sites within fuel systems where water accumulates (Gaylarde et al, 1999;Passman, 2003). Microbial activity and proliferation takes place mainly between the fuel-water interface where the availability of nutrients and water is optimum.…”