The present study examines the physicochemical degradation and elemental contamination of marine distillate diesel fuels, which were stored in land-based tanks in operational conditions. Forty-one (41) samples, in compliance with ELOT ISO 8217:2024 were analyzed for crucial physicochemical properties. Stepwise regression identified magnesium (Mg) (positive) and chromium (Cr) (negative) as significant viscosity predictors (R2 = 0.269, p = 0.003, VIF 0.85) between element pairs (Cu-Pb) (r = 0.996), Ca-Zn (r = 0.897), and P-Ca (r = 0.888) indicate common sources from lubricant additives (ZDDP) and brass corrosion, with individual correlations recorded for Ca (showing r = 0.679, p 0.05). The narrow FAME range examined precludes definitive conclusions regarding specific biodiesel effects. The threshold of 0.2 mg/kg, as set by manufacturers’ guidelines to protect injectors, was exceeded in the coastal carbon steel tank samples with eight (8) months of storage under high-humidity conditions and in the coastal carbon steel tank samples with nine (9) months of storage under high-humidity conditions examined. The current study offers a systematic correlation between viscosity and elemental contamination for marine distillate fuels under operational storage conditions regarding real-world samples.
Kalligeros et al. (Wed,) studied this question.