In the mid 1980's a major Western European Navy was experiencing an increasing number of problems attributed to microbial growth in their fuel storage systems. Having identified the nature and cause of the problem a trial was set up to identify the most effective biocide.

Effectiveness was measured in terms of: a) Cost efficacy & b) Performance, measured by reduction in microbial counts plus ATP level.

A tank containing 14,000 m(cubed) of fuel was treated with Kathon™ FP 1.5. This treatment eradicated water bottom contamination within 5 hours and contamination in the fuel within 24 hours. During the remaining 20 weeks of the trial there was no recurrence of the problem.

On the basis of this performance Kathon™ FP 1.5 was selected as the biocide of choice. It has since been regularly used on an additive basis, to ensure that strategic military and civil fuel reserves remain free from microbial contamination.