The Diesel Bug Science
The Diesel Bug Organisms
3 classes of diesel bug organism are known to grow in fuel – moulds, yeasts and bacteria.
Whilst over a hundred diesel bug organisms have been isolated from fuels, only about 16 actively degrade fuels. Of that 16 (all of which can be detected by our test) the main diesel bug organisms involved are:
Hormoconis resinae (formerly Cladisporum resinae)
Yarrowia Lipolytica
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
There is also anaerobic sulphate reducing bacteria, known to live in the depths of tanks to consider.
The diesel bug organisms work as a consortium, using the environment around the diesel fuel water interface as their main habitat. They generally live in the water phase and feed on the diesel fuel. Their respective activity waxes and wanes as they compete to digest the various alkanes present in fuel. This phenomenon can be seen in our diesel bug growth time lapse photography sequences, soon to be available in our video section.
Environmental conditions are known to affect diesel bug organism growth rates - moisture and warmth are key diesel bug growth boosters. Tropical conditions are therefore ideal for accelerated bug growth.
Their Effects
Hormoconis resinae is a fungus which behaves in the same way as most of its class. It produces black/brown filamentous growth, which produce fruiting bodies, which in turn produce spores, so spawning the next generation. This process takes at least 4 days to begin with first spores found in around 21 days.
Yarrowia Lipolytica in common with all yeast, is a simple single cell microscopic organism. Yeast is able to ferment sugars for the production of ethanol and is common in soil and salt water. Yeast is also found on the skin surfaces and in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, where they may live symbiotically or as parasites. Yeasts multiply as single cells that divide by budding or by direct division, or they may grow as simple irregular filaments (mycelium). Yeast colonies tend to be cream/brown in colour and contribute mass to the mix of organisms which block filters.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is a simple bacterium . Pseudomonas is a gram-negative rod type organism which often has a characteristic sweet odour. It is widespread in nature, inhabiting soil, water, plants, and animals (including humans). Although individually microscopic, en masse Pseudomonas aeruginosa creates the "plastic bagging" effect, which also contributes to clogging filters and fuel lines with 'slime'.