Abstract
The primary function of aviation fuel is to provide propulsive energy to the aircraft. Microorganisms may contribute to aging instability in the fuel, induce corrosion of the storage tanks and pipeworks, form mats which can block filters and pipelines and increase wear in fuel pumps eventually leading to engine failure, therefore, in this study, the microbial contaminants in the commercial aviation fuel obtained from Benin City Airport, Nigeria were isolated, characterized, identified and their hydrocarbon-utilizing potentials determined using standard methods. The microbial contaminants were Micrococcus luteus, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella aerogenes, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium italicum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida tropicalis. Serratia marcescens had the highest percentage distribution (16%) in the fuel. Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus fumigatus were the best utilizers of the fuel among the organisms isolated. There was a drop in the initial pH of the mineral salts oil medium inoculated with the isolates indicating hydrocarbon utilization. The result of this work showed that the fuel examined was contaminated with bacteria and fungi, therefore the incorporation of effective biocides, frequent inspection and drainage of water from fuel tanks and pipeworks are recommended.
Highlights
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft
The plates were thereafter covered, allowed to solidify and later incubated in an inverted position at 28°C for seven days for bacteria and ten days in the case of fungi, after which the isolates were randomly selected, subcultured on nutrient agar plates and later transferred onto NA slants where they were stored for characterization, identification and further use
The result of this study indicated that the aviation fuel samples examined were contaminated with bacteria and fungi, vigorous inspection and maintenance of the aircraft fuel systems as well as the incorporation of safe biocides in the fuel are recommended
Summary
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is the kerosene cut from the distillation of petroleum and is a mixture of thousands of hydrocarbons [1]. It consists primarily of long, single branched chains of carbon and hydrogen, or alkanes, ranging from C10-C20 in length [2]. Aviation fuel systems are an ideal environment for the proliferation of micro-organisms, as all physiological requirements for their growth are normally present [4]. Microorganisms require free water, organic nutrients, inorganic nutrients and proper temperature and PH for growth [5]. Microbes may be able to metabolize some fuel additives such as surfactants, as nutrient sources, though others may have inhibiting behaviours [6,7]
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