Odier E
Ann Microbiol (Paris). 1976 Aug-Sep;127B(2):213-25.
Fuel tanks are susceptible to contain a microflora consisting of bacteria and fungi which appear as sludge at the bottom of the tanks. This microflora is quite variable. Various strains of microorganisms were isolated, belonging to the following genera: Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Mycococcus, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Candida, Cladosporium. These strains are generally adapted to hydrocarbons though non adapted strains are also found, which develop with the help of metabolites excreted by the adapted strains or their lysates. The microorganisms use mostly the paraffinic fraction of the fuel. Some strains attack also aromatic hydrocarbons. Contaminated fuels were found to contain noticeable amounts of fatty acids. The study of the production of organic acids by strains isolated from fuel tanks shows that many strains are able to excrete organic acids. The nature of the fatty acids produced depends upon the strain: in some dases they correspond to the branched paraffins contained in the fuel. The comparison of microbial growth and organic acid production in mixed cultures with fuel with various quantities of fuel to water shows that the large amount of fuel compared to water in a fuel tank can be responsible for the importance of microbial growth and organic acids.
燃油箱容易含有由细菌和真菌组成的微生物群落，这些微生物在油箱底部呈污泥状出现。这种微生物群落变化很大。分离出了各种微生物菌株，它们属于以下属：假单胞菌属、不动杆菌属、分枝杆菌属、青霉属、曲霉属、念珠菌属、枝孢属。这些菌株一般适应碳氢化合物，不过也发现了非适应性菌株，它们借助适应性菌株分泌的代谢产物或其裂解物生长。微生物大多利用燃料中的链烷烃部分。一些菌株也会攻击芳烃。发现受污染的燃料含有大量脂肪酸。对从燃油箱分离出的菌株产生有机酸的研究表明，许多菌株能够分泌有机酸。所产生脂肪酸的性质取决于菌株：在某些情况下，它们与燃料中所含的支链烷烃相对应。对含有不同燃料与水比例的混合培养物中微生物生长和有机酸产生的比较表明，油箱中燃料与水相比含量高，可能是微生物生长和有机酸大量产生的原因。
