scholarly journals In situ Linkage of Fungal and Bacterial Proliferation to Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion in B20 Biodiesel Storage Tanks

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake W. Stamps ◽  
Caitlin L. Bojanowski ◽  
Carrie A. Drake ◽  
Heather S. Nunn ◽  
Pamela F. Lloyd ◽  
...  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake W. Stamps ◽  
Caitlin L. Bojanowski ◽  
Carrie A. Drake ◽  
Heather S. Nunn ◽  
Pamela F. Lloyd ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBiodiesel is a renewable substitute, or extender, for petroleum diesel that is composed of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from plant and animal fats. Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blended with up to 20% FAME can be used interchangeably with ULSD, is compatible with existing infrastructure, but is also more susceptible to biodegradation. Microbial proliferation and fuel degradation in biodiesel blends has not been directly linked in situ to microbiologically influenced corrosion. We, therefore, conducted a yearlong study of B20 storage tanks in operation at two locations, identified the microorganisms responsible for observed fuel fouling and degradation, and measured in situ corrosion. The bacterial populations were more diverse than the fungal populations, and largely unique to each location. The bacterial populations included members of the Acetobacteraceae, Clostridiaceae, and Proteobacteria. The abundant Eukaryotes at both locations consisted of the same taxa, including a filamentous fungus within the family Trichocomaceae, and the Saccharomycetaceae family of yeasts. Increases in the absolute and relative abundances of the Trichocomaceae were correlated with significant, visible fouling and pitting corrosion. This study identified the relationship between recurrent fouling of B20 with increased rates of corrosion, largely at the bottom of the sampled storage tanks.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G Floyd ◽  
Blake W Stamps ◽  
Wendy J Crookes-Goodson ◽  
Bradley Scott Stevenson

Fungi that degrade B20 biodiesel in storage tanks have also been linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). A member of the filamentous fungal genus Byssochlamys, and a yeast from the genus Wickerhamomyces were isolated from heavily contaminated B20 storage tanks from multiple Air Force bases. Although these taxa were linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion in situ, precise measurement of their corrosion rates and pitting severity on carbon steel was not available. In the experiments described here, we directly link fungal growth on B20 biodiesel to higher corrosion rates and pitting corrosion of carbon steel under controlled conditions. When these fungi were growing solely on B20 biodiesel for carbon and energy, consumption of FAME and n-alkanes was observed. The corrosion rates for both fungi were highest at the interface between the B20 biodiesel and the aqueous medium, where they acidified the medium and produced deeper pits than abiotic controls. Byssochlamys produced the most corrosion of carbon steel and produced the greatest pitting damage. This study characterizes and quantifies the corrosion of carbon steel by fungi that are common in fouled B20 biodiesel through their metabolism of the fuel, providing valuable insight for assessing MIC associated with storage and dispensing B20 biodiesel.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Lahoti

Abstract Getting correct estimates for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) from water storage tanks is not only important for maintaining emission compliance for state and national regulatory authorities, but also crucial in designing the capital-intensive systems for economic use of methane and other Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) gasses. This paper highlights the significance of gas liberated from produced water tanks in the fields. The paper presents a laboratory method to estimate such emissions from produced-water storage tanks by virtue of the in-situ water getting depressurized and releasing VOCs, and other emission gasses such as Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Further, the paper provides qualitative and quantitative assessment of the gas liberated from produced-water by analyzing the gas liberated from produced-water from gas-condensate reservoir wells from the Marcellus region.


2021 ◽  
pp. 193-210
Author(s):  
Bradley S. Stevenson ◽  
Blake W. Stamps ◽  
James G. Floyd ◽  
Caitlin L. Bojanowski ◽  
Wendy J. Goodson

Author(s):  
James G. Floyd ◽  
Blake W. Stamps ◽  
Wendy J. Goodson ◽  
Bradley S. Stevenson

Fungi that degrade B20 biodiesel in storage tanks have also been linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). A member of the filamentous fungal genus Byssochlamys , and a yeast from the genus Wickerhamomyces were isolated from heavily contaminated B20 storage tanks from multiple Air Force bases. Although these taxa were linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion in situ , precise measurement of their corrosion rates and pitting severity on carbon steel was not available. In the experiments described here, we directly link fungal growth on B20 biodiesel to higher corrosion rates and pitting corrosion of carbon steel under controlled conditions. When these fungi were growing solely on B20 biodiesel for carbon and energy, consumption of FAME and n-alkanes was observed. The corrosion rates for both fungi were highest at the interface between the B20 biodiesel and the aqueous medium, where they acidified the medium and produced deeper pits than abiotic controls. Byssochlamys produced the most corrosion of carbon steel and produced the greatest pitting damage. This study characterizes and quantifies the corrosion of carbon steel by fungi that are common in fouled B20 biodiesel through their metabolism of the fuel, providing valuable insight for assessing MIC associated with storage and dispensing B20 biodiesel. IMPORTANCE Biodiesel is widely used across the United States and worldwide, blended with ultralow sulfur diesel in various concentrations. In this study we were able to demonstrate that the filamentous fungi Byssochlamys AF004 and the yeast Wickerhamomyces SE3 were able to degrade fatty acid methyl esters and alkanes in biodiesel causing increases in acidity. Both fungi also accelerated the corrosion of carbon steel, especially at the interface of the fuel and water, where their biofilms were located. This research provides controlled, quantified measurements and the localization of microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by common fungal contaminants in biodiesel fuels.


Author(s):  
Y. Qin ◽  
J. Rastegar ◽  
F. Khorrami

Abstract A number of methods are currently employed for cleaning and inspection of large fuel storage tanks. All of these methods require that the tank be first taken out of service, emptied, the present sludge material removed, vented, and cleaned before the inspection process is undertaken. This process is very time consuming, laborious and costly. In addition, there is a great safety concern for people that have to operate the machinery inside the tank. In this paper, the design of a novel robotic system for cleaning large crude and # 6 oil storage tanks through regular homogenization that also prepares the tank surfaces and weld line for in-situ inspection is presented. The developed system is shown to not only reduce the direct and indirect cost of fuel tank cleaning and inspection, but also greatly reduce the amount of solid waste that has to be disposed of at high cost and with potentially high adverse environmental impact. This design solves most of the problems associated with the presently available telerobotic systems for similar operations since it makes it possible for the operator to be in constant visual contact with the robot operating within the tank. This novel design also greatly reduces the logistics problems related to the tether line and its handling within the tank and its entanglement. A prototype of this system is under construction.


2010 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 1405-1412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce M. McBeth ◽  
Brenda J. Little ◽  
Richard I. Ray ◽  
Katherine M. Farrar ◽  
David Emerson

ABSTRACTMicrobiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of mild steel in seawater is an expensive and enduring problem. Little attention has been paid to the role of neutrophilic, lithotrophic, iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) in MIC. The goal of this study was to determine if marine FeOB related toMariprofundusare involved in this process. To examine this, field incubations and laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted. Mild steel samples incubated in nearshore environments were colonized by marine FeOB, as evidenced by the presence of helical iron-encrusted stalks diagnostic of the FeOBMariprofundus ferrooxydans, a member of the candidate class “Zetaproteobacteria.” Furthermore,Mariprofundus-like cells were enriched from MIC biofilms. The presence ofZetaproteobacteriawas confirmed using aZetaproteobacteria-specific small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene primer set to amplify sequences related toM. ferrooxydansfrom both enrichments andin situsamples of MIC biofilms. Temporalin situincubation studies showed a qualitative increase in stalk distribution on mild steel, suggesting progressive colonization by stalk-forming FeOB. We also isolated a novel FeOB, designatedMariprofundussp. strain GSB2, from an iron oxide mat in a salt marsh. Strain GSB2 enhanced uniform corrosion from mild steel in laboratory microcosm experiments conducted over 4 days. Iron concentrations (including precipitates) in the medium were used as a measure of corrosion. The corrosion in biotic samples (7.4 ± 0.1 mM) was significantly higher than that in abiotic controls (5.0 ± 0.1 mM). These results have important implications for the role of FeOB in corrosion of steel in nearshore and estuarine environments. In addition, this work shows that the global distribution ofZetaproteobacteriais far greater than previously thought.


2016 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 383-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Javier Ruiz-Cabañas ◽  
Cristina Prieto ◽  
Rafael Osuna ◽  
Virginia Madina ◽  
A. Inés Fernández ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Timothy R. Smail ◽  
Annamarie M. Herb ◽  
Monica C. Hall

The Old Solvent Tanks (OST), located at the Savannah River Site (SRS) Old Radioactive Waster Burial Ground (ORWBG), are comprised of 22 underground storage tanks that were used to store spent radioactive solvent and aqueous wastes generated from the plutonium-uranium extraction (PUREX) process. The OSTs were installed at various dates between 1955 and 1968 and used to store the spent solvents until 1974. The spent solvents stored in the OSTs were transferred out from 1976 through 1981 leaving only residual liquids and sludges that could not be pumped out. Final remediation goals for the ORWBG include an overlying infiltration control system. If the tanks were to structurally fail, they would collapse causing potential for onsite worker exposure and release of tank contents to the environment. Therefore, as an interim action, methods for stabilizing the tanks were evaluated. The preferred remedial action was “Grouting of the Tank Wastes In-situ.” The primary function of the grout is to provide structural stability of the tanks by filling void space with material that prevents tank collapse. Incidental to any mixing that may occur, residual material in the tanks will be incorporated into the grouting mixture. The incidental grouting will ultimately improve environmental protection by rendering the residual material immobile. To accomplish this task, the SRS Environmental Restoration Division (ERD) teamed with the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) to determine a remedial design strategy and to translate this strategy into a construction specification and drawings for implementation. The OST remedial design strategy contained the following key aspects for performance requirements and acceptance criteria: • Grout mix; • Tank atmosphere testing; • Grout delivery system and camera monitoring system; • Off-Gas HEPA filter system and environmental monitoring; • OST Sealing and labeling. From November 2001 through February 2003 all 22 Old Solvent Tanks were successfully stabilized. This paper will discuss the systems designed to perform and monitor the grouting operation, the grouting process, and the radiological controls and wastes associated with grouting the Old Solvent Tanks.


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