Petrolabs HUM-OUT Diesel Fuel Biocide

Description

Petrolabs HUM Out is a water soluble product, EPA registered as a biocide for the control of bacteria and fungi growth in oils and refined fuels. Approved for use in California.  H.U.M. OUT will control microorganisms in fuel oil storage tanks, fuel oil and other refined or partially refined oils.  H.U.M. OUT is an EPA FIFRA registered antimicrobial that mixes solely in the water phase of the fuel storage tank; therefore, is not a fuel additive. Petrolabs HUM OUT is an effective fuel biocide and eliminates microbial growth in diesel fuel such as slime mats.

Used regularly, Petrolabs HUM Out will reduce the following:

• Kills bacteria and algae
• Prevents tank corrosion
• Slime mats
• Odors
• Fuel oil filter deposits and plugging
• Vehicle fuel tank deposits and corrosion
• Fuel-water separator deposits
• Injector plugging
• Excess carbon deposit and exhaust gas smoke
• 1 litre treats 15,000 litres (1 Gallon Jug Treats 15,000 Gallons)

Product Uses: H.U.M. OUT is a highly effective fungicide and bactericide for use in fuel oil (no. 2 oil, intermediate fuel oil and No. 6 oil), lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids in marine environments.

Every user of diesel fuel has experienced bacterial or fungal problems on at least one occasion.  All storage tanks are vented to the atmosphere.  This venting pulls in outside air which contains humidity and airborne, microscopic, bacteria spores.  The fuel oil tanks are usually cooler than the outside air and the humidity condenses into water droplets.  Since water is 8.4 pounds per gallon and #2 diesel fuel is 7.3 pounds per gallon, the heavier water collects under the fuel and forms and interface of fuel and water.  This microscopic bacteria spores will collect in the exposed on the exposed inside tank surfaces or be carried with the condensed water underneath the fuel.  It is possible to have aerobic (needing air) bacteria and fungi growing above the oil surface on the sides of the tank and anaerobic (not needing air) bacteria growing at the interface of the diesel and water layer.

Inactive is Active

Petrolabs H.U.M. Out makes use of even the active ingredients.  The 70% inert portion of H.U.M. Out is a special balanced blend of non-ionic wetting agents and surfactants to allow penetration of bacteria cell walls.  This provides a fast and more complete kill and easier mixing for ultimate contact.

What happens to dead bacteria slime?  The dispersants and wetting agents disperse the dead bacteria to reduce filter plugging.  Because all bacteria is 90-96% water, when killed the bacteria releases the water, and the small residue is further dispersed by the surfactants.

“Time Release” Formula

H.U.M. Out has a one of a kind time-release formula that is soluble in both fuel oil and water.  25ppm is soluble in the water phase, but only 8ppm is needed for complete bacterial kill.  As with any biocide, H.U.M. Out kills; is consumed; and any portion that is not consumed starts to degrade.

In time, it changes into a different by-product.  This causes the 25ppm concentration to decrease and when this happens more Petrolabs HUM OUT moves from the oil phase to the water phase to maintain 25ppm and provide a long-term kill.

Treatment Ratios

• 16 ounces treats 2,000 gallons

How to use the HUM Out Diesel Biocide Accu-Measure Bottle

Petrolabs HUM Out Diesel Biocide Documents

• HUM OUT Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Why Use a Biocide?

Bacteria is in everything we can see, touch and yes, even eat. Most of the time, Bacteria goes through its normal life and death cycle without causing any problems, however, when it grows beyond control it present serious problems.

Bacteria in fuel oil (heating, #2 Diesel or # 4) can cause numerous problems if not controlled. Plugged filters, plugged fuel lines, corrosion of metals in contact with fuel, faster aging of Fuel and corrosion of metal tanks are some of the more obvious problems.

We present some suggested treatments based on following:

• How to identify bacteria in fuel oil or determine if a potential for growth exists.
• How Hum Out works.
• How HUM OUT compares to the competition, especially Bibor.

Let’s examine how bacteria growths develop in any type of Fuel oil storage tank. All storage tanks are vented to the atmosphere. If these tanks were not vented, they would collapse as the fuel level is drawn down. This venting process, pulls in outside air that contains humidity and airborne, microscopic, bacteria spores. The fuel oil tank and fuel are usually cooler than the outside air and the humidity condenses into water droplets. Since water is 8.4 pounds per gallon and #2 diesel 7.3 pounds per gallon, the heavier water collects under the fuel and forms an interface of fuel and water. The microscopic bacteria spores will collect in the moisture on the exposed inside tank surfaces or be carried with the condensed water underneath the fuel. It is possible to have aerobic (needing air) bacteria and fungi growing above the oil surface on the sides of the tank and anaerobic (not needing air) bacteria growing at the interface of the oil and water layer.

How to identify bacterial growth or determine the potential for growth:

The most accurate method to determine if growth has or does exist is the plugging or deposits on the fuel filter located between the storage tank and the fuel use tank. Mats of bacteria on sides the tank or at the water-fuel interface, grow and become large enough to get loose, and are pumped through the filter and plug. If a facility (marina, terminal, ship, truck stop, etc.) has experienced filter plugging in the warmer months of the year, they have a bacteria problem.

Inspecting the fuel storage tank through a manhole or inspection port might show growth on sides of the tank. If these growths are visual, then there are more growths (under the oil) that are not visible.

The warmer the outside temperatures, the warmer the fuel (and water) and the faster growth of bacteria. In warm, humid climates, it has been estimated the bacteria counts (measured in 100,000 counts per 1 ml. of water sample) double every 4-6 hours.

The question often arises as to a sample of water, from under the fuel can be tested to confirm anaerobic bacteria. The answer is no. Infield testing cannot confirm anaerobic bacteria. This type of bacteria does not need air or light to grow (algae needs both air and light!) and if anaerobic bacteria is exposed to air and light it is destroyed, thus taking a water sample and exposing it to air and light will kill the anaerobic bacteria and produce inaccurate counts.

The technical approach to determining bacteria growth is the past history of filter plugging in warm weather and (if possible) visual tank inspection. The ideal result is to feed HUM OUT at  1 ounce to 120 gallons of fuel oil (stored) to eliminate any potential problem.

Do not be too surprised if after the addition of HUM OUT filters start to get plugged frequently. This shows bacteria is being killed and tank is in the process of getting sterilized.

The best time to start using HUM OUT is when the tanks are low. Estimate the fuel oil gallons in the tank, add to that the quantity of gallons of fuel to be delivered, divide by 120 and this will give you the quantity of ounces of HUM OUT to be fed.

Add the calculated quantity of ounces of HUM OUT to the almost empty tank just prior to filling this allows for mixing, the most important aspect in helping the product work best. If bacteria is known to be present, double the treatment dose.

How Hum Out works

First: The 70% inert portion of HUM OUT is a special balanced blend of non ionic wetting agents and surfactants to allow HUM OUT to penetrate the cell walls of the bacteria. This provides a faster kill, a more complete kill  and easier mixing for ultimate contact.  Also what happens to the dead bacteria-slime?  The dispersant and wetting agents disperse the dead bacteria to reduce filter plugging.  All bacteria is 90-95% water, when killed the bacteria releases the water and small residue is further dispersed by the surfactants.

Second: HUM OUT is soluble (dissolved) in both Fuel Oil and water. However, only 25 ppm (0.0025 %) is soluble in the water phase (we only need 8 ppm for complete bacteria kill).  As with any biocide, as HUM OUT kills, is consumed, and any portion that is not consumed, starts to degrade. In time, it changes into a different by-product. This causes the 25ppm concentration to decrease and when this happens, more Hum Out moves from the oil phase to the water phase to maintain 25ppm and provide a long term time kill or a better statement is HUM OUT provides a “time release” kill.

How HUM OUT compares to the competition especially Biobor:

There are many products in the market and fuel additives that claim to be a Fuel biocide or claim to remove water thus preventing the medium for bacterial growth.
For a product to be a biocide, it must show 3 things on the label:

• The active ingredients
• The EPA Registration Number (EPA Reg. # 31910-2-5573)
• An EPA establishment Number (EPA Est. # 63940-PA-001)

A biocide must contain all 3 of them, NO claims, No exceptions. A product that makes biocide claims but does not meet these 3 criteria is not an EPA approved Biocide, and probably, not a Biocide.

Since its inception in the later 1960’s, Biobor has been the accepted means of treating various types of fuel to prevent bacterial and fungi growth.

With the advances in organic chemistry over the past 30 years, new raw materials and manufacturing processes have led to the development of an improved product that has recently been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This new product called Hum Out is the first important Improvement in preventing biological growth in fuel in thirty years.

The active ingredients Biobor are organic Boron complexes that total 95% of the product and is typically applied at a maintenance dosage rate of 1 ounce each 70-75 gallons of #2 Diesel fuel.  HUM OUT utilizes the advanced chemistry of organic sulfur compounds with much higher activity levels against all forms of bacteria in oil and water.  HUM OUT does not discharge any toxic (boron) compounds into the atmosphere.  The typical maintenance dosage of HUM OUT is one (1) ounce per 120 gallons of #2 diesel fuel, thus, it is 60% more concentrated than Biobor.

Biobor dissolves equally in the oil water phase of any tank being treated. While this sounds an ideal situation, it is not. Once any biocide is dissolved in water its activity level is decreased in time which is a part of an aging process. While this aging process might take days, the  effectiveness of activity of Biobor to keep killing bacteria decreases.

HUM OUT is unique in its ability to provide a continuous “time release” approach. Hum Out is mostly all soluble in the fuel phase but a small amount (25pptn) is soluble in the water phase so a slight residual is left to continue to kill and, unfortunately, age. As this 25ppm of Hum Out is soluble in the water phase it only takes 8-10 ppm of HUM OUT to destroy bacteria in the water phase so a slight residual is left to continue to kill and, unfortunately, age. As this 25ppm of Hum OUT is consumed while killing and aging, more HUM OUT from the oil phase dissolves into the water phase to maintain the 25 ppm  thus dissolved a “timed” controlled level of activity.

Hum Out has a higher level of “kill” ability against more forms of bacteria, fungi and related micro-organisms than Biobor, and offers two distinct physical advantages. First, it does not cause foaming of#2 diesel fuel and second, a wetting agent is incorporated to provide superior mixing with fuel at all temperatures.