Biocides control microbe infestations in crude oil, fuels, and other refined petroleum product tanks.
Microbes in fuel and crude oil storage tanks, cause corrosion, degrade products, and damage expensive inventories and infrastructure.
Bacteria and fungi thrive in petroleum, crude oil, and fuel storage tanks if water is present. Biologically contaminated storage tanks experience quality and infrastructure problems. Microbe contamination problems include slime build-up, filter blockage, plugged injectors and burner jets, product discoloration, sludge, tank and pipe corrosion, emulsification and mixing of fuels products with water, plugged fuel gauges, and costly fuel quality degradation.
Diagnosing and Treating Contaminated Storage Tanks with Biocides:
Intertek monitors, identifies, treats, and controls microbial growth in fuel, biofuel, and crude oil storage tanks. Testing tank samples for bacteriological activity is readily available from Intertek. If storage tank microbe infestation is detected, trained Intertek personnel apply biocide treatments on-site at affected storage tanks.
Adopting a routine preventative maintenance program provided by Intertek can help keep microbial activity in storage tanks at low levels, helping protect the value of products and infrastructure.
Along with a biocide chemical treatment program, consistent storage tank de-watering programs should be maintained and filter changes should be monitored. Storage tanks with larger de-watering volumes (water heels) are more susceptible to damaging biological activity. If the pH in the water is less than 5, this can indicate active corrosion. If notable biological contamination continues after treatment, this may be indicate a serious contamination problem upstream from the storage tank, which should be investigated.
Microbial treatment program is available by Intertek in the USA.
