This guide provides information addressing the conditions that lead to fuel microbial contamination and biodegradation and the general characteristics of and strategies for controlling microbial contamination. It compliments and amplifies information provided in Practice D 4418 on handling gas-turbine fuels. More detailed information may be found in the IP Guidelines and in ASTM Manual 47.

This guide focuses on microbial contamination in refined petroleum products and product handling systems. Uncontrolled microbial contamination in fuels and fuel systems remains a largely unrecognized but costly problem at all stages of the petroleum industry from crude oil production through fleet operations and consumer use. This guide introduces the fundamental concepts of fuel microbiology and biodeterioration control.

This guide provides personnel who are responsible for fuel and fuel system stewardship with the background necessary to make informed decisions regarding the possible economic or safety, or both, impact of microbial contamination in their products or systems.

1.1 This guide provides personnel who have a limited microbiological background with an understanding of the symptoms, occurrence, and consequences of chronic microbial contamination. The guide also suggests means for detection and control of microbial contamination in fuels and fuel systems. This guide applies primarily to gasoline, aviation, boiler, industrial gas turbine, diesel, marine, furnace fuels and blend stocks (see Specifications D 396, D 910, D 975, D 1655, D 2069, D 2880, D 3699, D 4814, D 6227, and D 6751), and fuel systems. However, the principles discussed herein also apply generally to crude oil and all liquid petroleum fuels. ASTM Manual 47 provides a more detailed treatment of the concepts introduced in this guide; it also provides a compilation of all of the standards referenced herein that are not found in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section Five on Petroleum Products and Lubricants.

1.2 This guide is not a compilation of all of the concepts and terminology used by microbiologists, but it does provide a general understanding of microbial fuel contamination.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.