Mold on storage tanks

[dipiedr]

Can anybody advise on cleaning and coatings to be used on ethanol storage tanks and ethanol gasoline blend storage tanks? I'm having a significant build up of this on all tankage presently in service for these products.

 

[avilion]

Mildew on the exterior of ethanol storage tanks has been a persistent problem. Most coating manufacturers have added a mildewcide in their finish coats to arrest this problem. This approach, in my experience, has not proven very effective. PPG/Ameron manufacturers a polysiloxane, PSX700, which so far has proven far and away the best material for this application. It possesses a hard glossy finish which with its inorganic backbone minimizes this problem. It is not perfect but is much better than anything else.

 

[hokie66]

Why would fungal growth be worse on tanks with these products than when filled with something else?

 

[avilion]

It probably has something to do with the yeast and sugars used in the manufacture of the ethanol. Seems to provide a medium for accelerated growth of mildew.

 

[hokie66]

I see. So the fungal growth is due to spillage, or else these tanks are at the ethanol plant where the spores are in the air? The actual internal contents of the tanks are not causing the problem.