MECHANISM OF MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF JET FUEL AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION
Abstract
Progress was made in understanding and partially solving the problem of jet fuel contaminants, including microorganisms, surface-active materials, iron rust, water, and extraneous materials as they pertain to fuel properties, sludge formation, and their degree of participation in the corrosion and degradation of aircraft materials of construction throughout the fuel system. Several major developments in this area of research were accomplished. The first was the establishment of concepts that explain how various growth media cause the corrosion of aluminum. A study of the corrosion in simulated water bottoms revealed that ions, such as iron and calcium, cause aluminum corrosion like that caused by sodium chloride. However, other ions in the media, such as nitrate and phosphate, prevented aluminum corrosion. The mechanism of microbial corrosion appears to depend on the removal of these corrosion inhibitors by microbial growth. Aluminum corrosion was also caused by another mechanism as revealed by the corrosion produced by the growth of fuel isolates in media containing protein, peptides, and amino acids. This type of corrosion was not inhibited by nitrate. The second development was in understanding the metabolic mechanisms which operate in the production of fuel contaminants such as emulsions and sludges.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0458430
Entities
People
- Charles R. Goucher
- Gordon C. Blanchard
Organizations
- Melpar