Microbial deterioration of marine diesel fuel from oil shale. Final report
Recurring problems with conventional ship fuels caused by microorganisms have prompted an evaluation of the susceptibility of a recently produced synthetic diesel fuel from oil shale to microbial contamination. The growth of typical microbial contaminants of hydrocarbon fuels has been determined over a four month period in two-phase systems consisting of fresh and sea water media overlaid with fuel. Anaerobic, sulfate-reducing bacteria and a yeast (Candida sp.) grew as well in the synthetic fuel as in fuel derived from petroleum. Growth of certain strains of the fungus, Cladosporium resinae, was initially delayed in the synthetic diesel fuel but after 8-13 weeks the growth was generally comparable to that in petroleum-derived fuel. This finding indicated that C. resinae may require time for adaptation to constituents in the oil shale fuel. Ultimately, however, it appears that the synthetic diesel fuel is likely to be as susceptible to microbial contamination as conventional diesel fuel has been. Experience acquired with available synthetic fuels shows that their ability to support growth of microbial contaminants varies widely depending on both the source of crude oil and the refining processes used.
- Research Organization:
- Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5863672
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-097674/6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DIESEL FUELS
BIODEGRADATION
SHALE OIL
CANDIDA
COAL
FUNGI
HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SHALES
SEAWATER
SYNTHETIC FUELS
YEASTS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAINMENT
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MINERAL OILS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANTS
WATER
040500* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Properties & Composition