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We recently heard from Conidia Bioscience about how users can deal with contamination within jet and diesel fuel systems. Fuel contamination caused by microorganisms can pose major problems to businesses relying on jet or diesel fuel. A small amount of contamination can lead to engine failure, and microbial contamination can be costly to remedy. Conidia’s website shares several methods for dealing with business risks before they escalate.
It’s possible for microorganisms to enter fuel from the atmosphere and cause microbial contamination. The right conditions allow certain species of microorganisms to thrive in fuel, causing damage to bunkers, tanks, and fuel systems. It’s almost impossible to avoid contamination after fuel leaves the refinery. Most of the damage to fuel and engines is caused by fungi such as Hormoconis resinae, bacteria, and yeasts.
When moderate-to-severe microbial contamination occurs, its effects are fairly evident: if the fuel cannot fulfill the engine’s needs, the engine’s performance will suffer. It’s likely that the engine will eventually or suddenly fail. It is not uncommon, however, for fuel gauges to appear inaccurate, and for filters to become clogged with biomass. It is possible, in extreme circumstances, for fuel tanks to leak.
There are a number of ways to test for microbial contamination in fuel. One of the more commonly known tests is the IP385 CFU, which has been in use since the late 19th century and can detect any culturable microbe in a given sample. Despite this, it is difficult to understand what microbes have grown and whether they will cause problems in fuel systems and tanks.
Furthermore, this method doesn’t detect dead or dormant microbes, which could also lead to problems; e.g., dead biomass can still block filters, and dormant microbes may become active in certain conditions.
The IP385 CFU test results are obtained in a rather dated manner. Counting dots with a pen or comparing the density of colonies to a fuel contamination chart are carried out manually by technicians. As a result, the amount of microbial contamination is assessed against established standards from IATA or JIG, or against guidelines from fuel manufacturers.
FUELSTAT® Plus, is a modern immunoassay antibody test manufactured by leading UK Fuel Microbiology organisation, Conidia Bioscience Limited. To find out more about the company’s available fuel testing kits and how the aviation, marine, and jet-fuel industries can benefit from its technology, see their website at the following link: http://conidia.com/
Release ID: 89042316