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TITLE : New approaches to Marine Biofouling Control  
AUTHORS : Venkatesan .R                 
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.18000/ijabeg.10001  
ABSTRACT :

 Biofouling control measures are dependant on the type of industry, type of industry, type of equipment, environment and the substratum. Cooling circuits of power plants invariably get fouled. Several biocides like chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone & organic biocides are being tried for fouling control. However chlorine has been the most sought after biocide due to its low cost, easy handling and quick degradation. The ban on tributyltin (TBT)-based paint products has been the cause of a major change in the antifouling paint industry. In the past decade, several competing technologies have reached the commercial market and claimed their effectiveness with respect to prevention of biofouling on ships and marine structures in an environmentally friendly manner. The interest in providing innovative anitfouling technologies has led to a large number of studies for improved understanding of the process and the principles underlyhing, biofouling of surfaces. The efficiency of the antifouling coating increased with the ability for controlled release of the biocide from the matrix which was demonstrated by the TBT SPC technology. In the search for alternate antifoulants, studies have been oriented in two ways i.e. Imitation of the natural antifouling process (natural product antifoulants) and the surface modification approach (low surface energy of the substrate of coating). Biofouling in power plants leads to flock blockage, increased condenser backpressure. In the search for marine natural product as antifoulants several antifouling compounds have been successfully identified, howeever compatibility of these compounds into commercial coatings with the desired leaching rates has been a stumbling block for their success. Some opractical criteria to be considered in the development of such coating is compatibility of compounds with polymer matrixes, environmental effects, legislation and registration of the compounds. Among the low surface energy materials tested the best was found to be a silicone elastomer poly (dimethylsiloxane) PDMS. The work initiated by NIOT to understand and study marine fouling is discussed in this paper. Further other alternative technologies towards environmentally favourable antifouling systems are outlined.

 
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