title: Issues for storing plant-based alternative fuels in marine environments.
abstract: Two coastal seawaters (Key West, FL, USA and the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, representing oligotrophic and eutrophic environments, respectively) were used to evaluate potential biodegradation and corrosion problems during exposure to alternative and conventional fuels. Uncoated carbon steel was exposed at the fuel/seawater interface and polarization resistance was monitored. Under typical marine storage conditions, dioxygen in natural seawater exposed to fuel and carbon steel was reduced to <0.1parts-per-million within 2d due to consumption by corrosion reactions and aerobic microbial respiration. Sulfides, produced by anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria, and chlorides were co-located in corrosion products. Transient dioxygen influenced both metabolic degradation pathways and resulting metabolites. Catechols, indicative of aerobic biodegradation, persisted after 90d exposures. Detection of catechols suggested that initial exposure to dioxygen resulted in the formation of aerobic metabolites that exacerbated subsequent corrosion processes.
authors.affiliation: Naval Research Laboratory, 1009 Balch Blvd., Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA. Electronic address: jason.lee@nrlssc.navy.mil.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Naval Research Laboratory, 1009 Balch Blvd., Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA.
authors.forename: Richard I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Naval Research Laboratory, 1009 Balch Blvd., Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Little
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Deniz F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Athenia L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Oldham
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Irene A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Davidova
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Suflita
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000502:physiology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D003343:Corrosion; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D013232:Steel / Q000737:chemistry*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D013440:Sulfides; D013232:Steel; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Alternative fuel; Biodiesel; Carbon steel; Corrosion; Seawater