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Renewable resources become more and more relevant to maintain energy demands for an increasing global population. Biosynthetic fuels like biodiesel might replace conventional petrochemical fuels, such as diesel. However, more research is needed to characterize the interaction between the different fuels and the polymeric material, especially with respect to ageing and degradation.
The poster will present several interaction and degradation phenomena of high density polyethylene (PE-HD) induced by diesel and biodiesel 1-3. Also the possible influence of microbial growth (fungi and bacteria) is considered. The chosen PE-HDs are typical thermoplastic resins for container and storage tank applications. Degradation of PE-HD will be investigated by changes of the mechanical properties – with main emphasis on the Charpy impact strength 2. Furthermore, with alternating sorption and desorption cycles in combination with oven ageing the co-oxidation 3 of PE-HD in contact with biodiesel will be addressed.
Mechanical characterization of high-density polyethylene in contact with diesel and biodiesel fuels
(2016)
Renewable resources become more and more relevant to maintain energy demands for an increasing global population. Biosynthetic fuels like biodiesel might replace conventional petrochemical fuels, such as diesel. However, more research is needed to characterize the interaction between the different fuels and polymeric materials widely used in the fuel infrastructure as well as for automotive parts. Especially changes in the structural properties and mechanical behavior of the polyethylene (PE-HD) have to be addressed.
The presented work comprises the direct interaction of high density polyethylene (PE-HD) with diesel and biodiesel, resulting in swelling and plasticization. Also long-term degradation phenomena will be discussed.
The chosen PE-HD types are typical thermoplastic resins for container and storage tank applications. The impact of diesel and biodiesel in PE-HD is investigated by changes in the mechanical properties with emphasis on the Charpy impact strength. Furthermore, structural and dynamic influences on the polymeric material induced by diesel and biodiesel are proven in Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). Both methods, Charpy impact strength and DMA, reveal softening effects due to the migration of diesel and biodiesel into the amorphous regions of PE-HD.
Since biodiesel is more prone to oxidative degradation compared to diesel, the fuel/air/polymer-interaction is studied for partly immersed tensile test specimens. Main focus of the evaluation is the co-oxidation. Here, the accelerated deterioration of PE caused by the sorption of the facile oxidation of biodiesel into the solid polymer might be a major degradation mechanism in this context.
Renewable resources become more and more relevant to maintain energy demands for an increasing global population. Biosynthetic fuels like biodiesel might replace conventional petrochemical fuels. In this study the influence of microbial growth on biodiesel and diesel on the storage tank systems were investigated. Polymeric fuel storage tanks for diesel and biodiesel provide suitable environmental conditions for a broad spectrum of fungi and various bacteria, including cyanobacteria and aerobic heterotrophic, and even anaerobic, fermentative Bacteria. However, the questions whether and how ageing of the materials is affected by biofouling processes have not been answered so far. Therefore, a model system for biofilm formation was established to study the initial attachment phase of bacteria in dependency of ageing, quality and surface modification of thermoplastic polymers used for storage tank systems. The microbial survey is closely connected with a detailed characterization of the material’s properties and its ageing processes.
A widely applied plastic used for fuel storage tanks is high-density polyethylene (PE-HD), which is available with various additives to increase UV-light stability and even for the storage of biodiesel. These materials were aged under UV-light and temperature using a defined climate chamber set-up. Further, the repeated filling of fuels was mimicked for such storage tanks, as this has an important impact on the life-cycle length for the storage Container. The aged polymers showed a significant change in the material’s characteristics, including surface characteristics (e.g. hydrophobicity) and carbonyl groups. The effect of the changed material properties on the biofilm formation are studied using bacterial isolates, previously obtained from a “dieselpest”, and as a model-reference E. coli. The unaged polymers showed already some significant differences for the initial attachment of E. coli K12. Polyethylene with additives was colonized faster than the reference material (without additives) although the final biofilm coverage was not impaired. Likewise, the settlement of a kerosene-isolated Bacillus species on the unaged materials independently of additives was only minor interfered.
In future, our results should give stakeholders in industry and public authorities a better estimation of the life-cycle security for fuel storage tank systems and on the fuel quality. Further, our results could help to test and develop new materials or additives to prevent biofouling processes.
The first documentation of fuel biodeterioration dates back to the late 19th century. However, extensive studies concerning the microbial fuel contamination started in 1980’s. Polymeric fuel storage tanks containing diesel and biodiesel provide environmental conditions for microbial growth. Several studies demonstrated that bacteria, which were found in contaminated fuel systems, can use fuels as macronutrient; but such bacteria can also cause microbiologically influenced corrosion and fouling.
The aim of this study is to investigate the initial attachment behavior of bacteria, isolated from a diesel contamination, on neat and photooxidized high-density polyethylene (PE-HD). Two common PE-HD’s, less- and biodiesel-stabilized, were radiated to UV light representing a tank exposed to sunlight. The effect of photooxidiation on PE-HD’s surface were characterized chemically by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The attached bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis on the polymer surface were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and colony-forming unit tests (CFU).
PE-HD as a polymeric fuel storage tank material: Photooxidation, fuel sorption and long-term storage
(2018)
High-density polyethylene (PE-HD) is a commodity thermoplastic polymer which is typically used for packing of dangerous goods. Its good resistance against photooxidation, fuels, chemicals and other environmental factors in addition to low production costs makes PE-HD attractive for fuel storage applications. Typical engine fuels stored in polymer tanks are petrol, diesel and biodiesel that receives increasing attention as proper alternative to fossil fuels. One of the major problems with biodiesel is its susceptibility to oxidize due to its chemical composition of unsaturated fatty acids which also can cause polymer degradation.
The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different environmental factors, UV radiation and commonly stored fuels, on the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of two types of PE-HD polymers (stabilized and non-stabilized). The influence on the mechanical properties was tested by Charpy and tensile tests, chemical and physical properties were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) tests. Samples were characterized after varying exposure time of UV radiation and after fully and partially immersion in biodiesel. In addition, similar experiments were conducted using diesel for comparison.
High-density polyethylene (PE-HD) is a widely applied plastic for fuel storage tank applications. But such tanks, filled with diesel or biodiesel, provide excellent environmental conditions for growth of a broad spectrum of fungi and various bacteria1. This can result in fuel contamination, engine plugging or possible (bio-) degradation2. Our research focusses on the initial attachment phase of Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a „dieselpest“2 on two distinctly PE-HD materials, typical for fuel storage tank applications, pre-damaged thermally and by UV-irradiation.
Sustainable energy and clean engine fuels receive more and more attention. Petrodiesel could be substituted by biofuels such as biodiesel produced from renewable resources. Biodiesel is derived by transesterification of oils with alcohols for example vegetable oils, animal fats or food waste. Its chemical composition of unsaturated fatty methyl acids causes biodiesels susceptibility to oxidation. Especially, the polymer-biodiesel performance under long-term conditions has been considered only in few researches.
Our study addresses a long-term storage scenario of a polymeric fuel tank containing biodiesel or diesel.