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Effect of ultraviolet radiation on inactivation of microorganisms present in Brazilian diesel fuel
Author(s) -
Neves Andressa C.,
Polinarski Marcos A.,
Rosado Fábio R.,
Fiorini Adriana,
Silva Edson A.,
Alves Helton J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
biofuels, bioproducts and biorefining
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.931
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1932-1031
pISSN - 1932-104X
DOI - 10.1002/bbb.2129
Subject(s) - microorganism , diesel fuel , ultraviolet , chemistry , food science , environmental science , environmental chemistry , pulp and paper industry , bacteria , materials science , biology , organic chemistry , genetics , optoelectronics , engineering
This work aimed to apply ultraviolet radiation as an alternative treatment to inhibit microbial growth in diesel fuel. Samples of fuel were placed in a reactor equipped with ultraviolet C (UV‐C) radiation lamps (40 W, 253 nm) and a fuel recirculation system. Assays were performed using different UV‐C exposure times (0–360 min), volume (40 and 60 L), and with / without a circulation system. The microorganisms present in diesel were quantified using the drop‐plate technique and spectrophotometric detection (600 nm), and were identified by genetic sequencing. Parameters such as color, specific mass, and kinematic viscosity were evaluated to verify whether UV radiation promotes changes in phyco‐chemical fuel properties. The assay with 360 min of radiation exposure, with a circulation system, caused the microorganism concentration to decrease from 1.50 × 10 10 to 3.33 × 10 2 CFU mL −1 , but otherwise did not lead to any significant changes in fuel physicochemical properties. Microorganisms of the genera Staphylococcus sp., Enterococcus sp., Clostridium sp., Enterobacter sp . and Bacillus sp. were identified. It could be concluded that the use of UV radiation as a microbiological control method resulted in a reduction of around 99% in the concentration of the microorganisms. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd