Short communicationBiodegradation of biodiesel and microbiologically induced corrosion of 1018 steel by Moniliella wahieum Y12

- A putatively novel basidiomycetous fungus termed Moniliella wahieum Y12T was isolated and submitted to ATCC (MYA-4962).
- M. wahieum Y12T was found to maximally degrade biodiesel at a rate of 3.56 × 10−2 mg/h during log phase growth.
- In the presence of M. wahieum Y12T, '1018' steel corrosion exceeded controls by 70% as determined by mass loss procedure.

A putatively novel basidiomycetous fungus termed Moniliella wahieum Y12T was isolated from a 20% biodiesel blend. The strain maximally degraded biodiesel at a rate of 3.56 × 10−2 mg/h during log phase growth. Induction of metal corrosion by the strain in a mass loss procedure using 1018 metal coupons showed total mass reduction exceeded that in controls by 70% through 30 days. Enhanced corrosion was observed at the pellicle and due to medium acidification. This is the first investigation of a Moniliella sp. and its impact on biodiesel stability and 1018 steel corrosion. (M. wahieum Y12T = ATCC MYA-4962).