October 2021 - January 2022
Is your fuel bugged? Diesel is an organic compound, and like a slice of bread, it can go mouldy, which can pose some serious safety risks, says David Armitage from Conidia Bioscience
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ould, a form of fungus, yeasts and bacteria can grow in fuel over time. Termed ‘microbiological contamination’, this threat is greater now as the global pandemic has created a reduction in fuel turnover. As fuel is stored and backed up in the supply chain for longer, road haulage and commercial forecourt operations need to take extra care to keep this contamination in check. While consuming mouldy bread may not be an appealing option, it will not actually do you any harm. Microbiological contamination in fuel supplies, on the other hand, has much more serious consequences on fuel systems and storage tanks. As microbes multiply in the fuel, they can form a biomass layer consisting of billions of organisms. This biomass can block filters, increase injector wear, and even corrode tanks with the organic acid it produces. Worst of all, microbiological contamination can be passed along the fuel supply chain, whether from pipeline to storage tank or fuelling truck to retail forecourt. This means that even if a depot is experiencing high fuel turnover, delivering food, Amazon boxes or other supplies, the overall slump in global 4
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fuel consumption across all modes of transport means contamination from the fuel supply chain could still be an issue. Rachel Harrison at Fueltek Ltd says the ‘diesel bug’ is something that anyone storing fuel in bulk is generally aware of, but maybe not of the increasing risks it poses. What does this mean for managers? No one wants to add unnecessary activity or cost to operations, but managers need a smart way to make smart decisions to help prevent the potential of significant remedial costs due to damage caused by microbiological contamination. But why does microbiological contamination occur? Fuel inherently contains water in some form as soon
making it impossible to keep it completely out of the supply chain. Many companies will have sophisticated wet stock management with water sensory equipment, but even the smallest amount of water (far from the levels these mechanisms can detect) can do damage. Couple the presence of even a small amount of water with the use of more
While there is no regulation to test fuel supplies at garage forecourts or refuelling hubs, the risks contamination poses, especially at a time when overall throughput in the supply chain is lower, are significant as it leaves the sterile environment of the refinery. Water can be picked up at any point in the supply chain; in pipelines, storage tanks and fuelling trucks. It can also naturally enter storage tanks due to condensation,
sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels, which has led to a reduction in sulphur and addition of biofuels, and the microbiological problem gets worse. While steps can be taken,
such as cleaning fuel tanks or dosing them with biocides if the tank is not contaminated, this adds a significant cost to operations. A regular, on-site testing regime using lateral flow devices, however, offers a quick, easy, and low-cost way to ascertain whether action needs to be taken. Immunoassay antibody test kits are a proven technology to give accurate levels of microorganism activity in a fuel source. Testing can be carried out on site without the need for in-depth training or investment in sophisticated test readers or other high-tech equipment. The kits require no special handling, storage or disposal and are safe and easy to use, providing quick results without the need to send samples away for testing. The very nature of how the test works means that there is minimal risk of cross-contamination (unlike if sam-
