Page 64 - IFIA_Magazine_No14

| IFIA Magazine - March 2022

OIL AND GAS INSTITUTE –

NATIONAL RESEARCH

INSTITUTE

represented by The

Director Jacek Jaworski,

PhD Eng.

INVENTION TITLE: A biocidal - stabilising composition for biofuels
AUTHORS:Winicjusz Stanik - Team Leader,
Michał Janeczek,
Rafał Konieczny,
Tomasz Łaczek,
Krzysztof Sikora
FIELD OF SCIENCE: chemical sciences, life sciences and biotechnology, materials engineer-
ing, petroleum industry - production of fuels and biofuels
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
The invention subject consists of a biocidal - stabilising composition for biofuels. It is known
that biofuel storage and distribution conditions increase its susceptibility to microbiological in-
fection. The microbiological infection results in the fuel turbidity and filterability deterioration. In
many cases microbes in contact with water form a biofilm strongly adhering to tanks surfaces.
The biofilm matrix structure is stabilised due to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). A
biofilm formation is a process consisting of many stages. Biofilm affects electrochemical pro-
cesses proceeding on the metal surface. The electrochemical processes proceeding on the
metal surface break the passive layer and pitting or even crevice corrosion occurs, very diffi-
cult to monitor and being the reason for tank walls damage, threatening with fuel leakage. A
biocidal - stabilising composition for biofuels features improved biocidal - stabilising properties
through inhibition of biofilm matrix formation and prevention of microbiologically induced corro-
sion. It contains a surfactant with properties highly wetting the surface, preventing irreversible
adhesion of microbes and a biocidal compound, containing in particular oxazolidine groups,
oxidation inhibitor, a hydrocarbon solvent, and a co-solvent.
THE ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION:
The invention subject consists of a biocidal - stabilising composition for biofuels, in particular for
fatty acids methyl esters as a biocomponent to the diesel oil or an independent alternative fuel
to the diesel oil. It is known that biofuel storage and distribution conditions increase its suscep-
tibility to microbiological infection. This manifests in precipitation of deposits and slurries, biofuel
propensity for emulsification, and permanent emulsions increase the bioesters propensity for
hydrolysis and increased acid number. A microbiological infection results in the fuel turbidity
and in filterability deterioration, in increased pollution in the form of deposits, in fuel colour and
smell change, and in increased viscosity. In many cases microbes in contact with water form
a biofilm strongly adhering to tanks surfaces. The biofilm matrix structure is stabilised due to
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