ULSD ultra low sulfur diesel instability

We have done a few experiments on cleaning fuel using our technology. Not only do we clean it, but we also remove biological contamination, microbes. This eliminates the need for handling toxic biocide.

One experiment involved a shipboard fuel, similar to diesel oil. Since the experiment was for a military agency, we were told very little except take a sample every day for a week. The 55 gallon drum of fuel was connected to our LR series purifier running at 1 GPM. over the course of the week the fuel went from slightly brow-orange to something similar to pilsner beer.

Several experiments have been conducted where BCA was shown to kill bacteria and remove their little carcasses from the fuel.

BCA is primarily used for cleaning varnish from oil using an electrostatic process. It has the same effect on fuel. While it has never been tested on anything other than laboratory size samples, the results were so good, i think it is perfect for large storage facilities.

If there is a large diesel fuel storage facility that would like to run a real world experiment, please let me know.

You may want to check out link to better monitor your fuel instability problems
http://www.herguth.com/capabilities/ulsdkit.htm
Initial purpose of diesel fuel kit was to differentiate between ULSD and low sulfur fuels. Additional test was added to check for hydroperoxides which are the initial step of ULSD fuel instability - can react further to form turbine oil like gums, can interact with sulfur/nitrogen species to form sludge - reason problems occur when you top-off stored low sulfur fuel with ULSD

Here is a ULSD fuel stabilizer and cleaner AMSOIL offers http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/adf.aspx?zo=1181889 that I have sold at wholesale for 6 years.

Tim, Thank you but we have a stabilizer developed by Mid Continental Chemical based on laboratory tests on the actual contaminated fuel and the deposits.
I am curious though, this Amsoil product says it cleans deposits left by this particular problem (at least I believe that is what it says)As these deposits are only dissolved by either acetone or chloroform (based on our actual tests)Does this Amsoil product contain either of those chemicals?
It would be nice, as the initial deposits within the generator power system itself are at the angstrom level, and agglomerate rather quickly. Initial cleaning of the system using the Amsoil product to keep those agglomerations from forming would be very helpful. Really not sure it can actually do that though.

Hawk,

You are welcome. You are correct, the AMSOIL product is both a ULSD stabilizer and fuel system cleaner.

I have found these chemicals listed on the AMSOIL Diesel Concentrate Performance Fuel Additive MSDS at http://www.amsoil.com/msds/adf.pdf?zo=1181889 :
Solvent naphtha (petroleum), light aromatic 64742-95-6 30 - 60%
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 95-63-6 30 - 60%
Solvent naphtha (petroleum), heavy aromatic 64742-94-5 10 - 30%
Mesitylene 108-67-8 5 - 10%
Benzene, diethyl- 25340-17-4 1 - 5%
Cumene 98-82-8 1 - 5%
Xylene 1330-20-7 1 - 5%
Naphthalene 91-20-3 1 - 5%

There are no additional ingredients present which, within the current knowledge of the supplier and in the concentrations applicable, are classified as hazardous to health or the environment and hence require reporting in this section.


For more technical information on this product, you may wish to contact AMSOIL Product Technical Services: (715)399-TECH.

If you would like to purchase some to analyze/test, contact me at 713-301-1872.

Tim, having reviewed the MSDS on this product, I can see that there is neither Acetone or Chloroform in the ingredients.
I would assume that the other chemicals of high solvency may dissolve the asphaltenes and paraffins, Our labs have not mentioned the chemicals in this product as being able to dissolve those deposits.
Our aim is not to dissolve and remove the deposits within the fuel storage areas. They are inert and do not present a problem to stabilized fuel exposed to it. Save that the deposits would act as a catalyst to any new "Un-Stabilized" fuel introduced to the system, causing them to again start the repolymerization process, perhaps at an accelerated rate from the previous contamination process.
If such a solvent based product were to be introduced into the fuel storage system, where deposits have been forming for a period of time (not the generator system itself)I would believe that those deposits would then go back into solution, causing an interesting situation with regards to filter clogging and equipment shut down.
Cleaning the deposits should be undertaken while the contaminated tank has been isolated from the generator system. Then a proper and thorough cleaning could take place, without fear of the newly released contaminants being introduced into the fuel intake system.
Cleaning of the generator's diesel engine fuel system may be possible with this product, given that the solvents would indeed dissolve the particular contaminants involved, and if a "flow through" condition could be established to allow the product and fuel to move through the engines fuel system cleaning as it goes. Realizing that in most cases the engine has shut down due to fuel flow stoppage at various locations throughout the system, this may be problematical.
Disassembly and cleaning has been the case so far.
We believe that stabilizing the existing fuels with a non or very low solvent based product where the generator engine has not been involved in a shutdown situation as of yet, would be the most beneficial until the system fuel supply could be by passed and cleaned properly.

Allow me to post the information on the company we have been working with to allevate this problem. THey have developed an appropriate stabilizer based on testing of the actual contaminated fuel and deposits found within those affected storage tanks.
Brad Craig
MidContinental Chemical Co.
Corp: 913-390-5556
Fax: 913-254-1434
Cell: (714) 519-1808
bradc@mcchemical.com
www.mcchemical.com

Feel free to contact them with any questions or suggestions you may have.

Hawk,

Keep in mind a few things. The MSDS is not necessarily a list of all chemicals present. Only those that could present a health or environmental hazard at the concentrations used. If you add up all the minimum concentrations present of the listed chemical families, it is 87%. That leaves 0-13% possible unlisted chemicals which at that concentration have not been shown to be a health or environmental hazard. A GC/MS analysis of this proprietary product would likely reveal more of its chemical make up.

I like this product because it not only stabilizes the ULSD, but will clean up injectors and other parts, better separate water from the diesel fuel, and provide improved protection from corrosion and oxidation, which could be the root cause of your unstable ULSD.

Your chemical of concern might favor water over the ULSD. If that is true, then by removing the water from the ULSD might also remove that chemical.

Tim, Please explain the "Favor Water" statement.

All ULSD contains some amount of water. At low concentrations, the water is suspended in the diesel. As the concentration increased, it can begin to drop out of solution. What the AMSOIL product does, is separate the water from the diesel at low concentrations so that the water/diesel separator filter can remove the water more efficiently.

Have you identified the chemical component by name?

If your chemical component of concern is slightly polar, it may prefer the water phase over the hydrocarbon phase. Thus the chemical component might be removed by the water and filter.

I've never heard of this problem you are having with customers using the AMSOIL stabilizer in ULSD for 6 years.

I take it you sell amsoil?

Yes, as I mentioned in the above posts and in my public profile. For 7 years, ever since I retired from Shell Oil company as a chemist. That is why I asked if you have identified your troublesome compound. It would seem to have some polarity as you said it is soluble in acetone and chloroform and might be attracted and held by the water.

What do you do?

Thanks for the info.

It looks like AMSOIL's ULSD Diesel Concentrate Performance Fuel Additive http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/adf.aspx?zo=1181889 solved those problems 6 years ago. Give it a try.

Thank you, I will consider it.

OK, considered and rejected, We do not want a solvent based product in the systems at this time.
Maybe later.
Thanks for your input, good luck with your Am soil.
You guys are everywhere, at least on the net.

Thank you for your consideration.

I thought you were using acetone and chloroform solvents? What is it that you are using?

I didn't know retired Shell Oil chemists were everywhere, at least on the net. I also consult for a NASA contractor regarding rocket fuel catalyst.