Microbiological Contamination of Diesel Fuel

Testing Diesel Fuel Systems for Microbial Contamination.

Intertek helps clients detect and treat diesel fuel system microbe infestations. Microbiological contamination in diesel fuel systems can result in serious problems related to increased solids (fungal and yeast biomass), biopolymers (slime associated with bacterial growth) and corrosivity (sulphides) due to sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), among other issues. Fuel system problems where the bacterial infestation problem becomes evident can include plugged filters, corroded fuel injectors and fuel starvation. The problem can be local to the microbial infestation, separated by many metres in the distribution system, or even miles away in the supply chain. It is important to identify the location of microbiological activity resulting in a particular problem, and the root cause of the microbiological activity.

Diesel fuel microbe infestation analysis performed in accordance with the IP 385 and IP472:  

• Bacteria,Yeast, Mould 
• Fibre Count  
• Moisture Content  
• Clear and Bright Fuel Evaluation  
• Fuel Test Kit for Microbe Detection (Diesel fuel)

Microbiological Growth and Related Problems with Diesel Fuel:  

• Bacteria:
  SRB causes Corrosion and Sludge Development, GHB, Pseudomonas causes Surfactancy Problems), Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter and Micrococcus
• Yeasts:
  Candida, Saccharomyces, Torula, Hansenula
• Moulds:
  Hormoconis resinae (formerly Cladosporium Resinae), Aspergillus (both form form bacterial mats, below which intense corrosion can occur), Penicillium, Fusarium and Botrytis 
   

Diesel Microbial Contamination Symptoms:  

• Aggregation of Biomass observed as Discolouration, Turbidity and Fouling
• Biosurfactants promote Stable Water Haze and Particle Dispersion affecting Plug Filters, Pumps and Injectors
• Tank Pitting
• Non-uniform Fuel Flow and Variations in Combustion may accelerate Piston Rings and Cylinder Wear Rates and affect Camshaft Torque

Contact Intertek and our global experts to help prevent or treat microbial contamination issues with your fuel systems.

Contact us to see how Intertek can help your organization with Microbiological Contamination of Diesel Fuel.