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Bio Fouling

This document discusses biological fouling, which is the unwanted accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, and animals on surfaces exposed to aquatic environments. Biological fouling is an important problem that can impact industries like shipping, cooling systems, and water supply infrastructure. It leads to increased drag, decreased heat transfer, biocorrosion, and higher costs for maintenance. Traditional antifouling methods using organotins have been banned due to their toxicity. Alternative non-toxic methods are still being researched, including using natural compounds produced by marine organisms that inhibit fouling. Understanding the biological and chemical nature of fouling organisms is key to developing effective antifouling strategies.

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Benedict Paul
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334 views

Bio Fouling

This document discusses biological fouling, which is the unwanted accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, and animals on surfaces exposed to aquatic environments. Biological fouling is an important problem that can impact industries like shipping, cooling systems, and water supply infrastructure. It leads to increased drag, decreased heat transfer, biocorrosion, and higher costs for maintenance. Traditional antifouling methods using organotins have been banned due to their toxicity. Alternative non-toxic methods are still being researched, including using natural compounds produced by marine organisms that inhibit fouling. Understanding the biological and chemical nature of fouling organisms is key to developing effective antifouling strategies.

Uploaded by

Benedict Paul
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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(Biological fouling)

Undesired deposition of material


Inorganic fouling on surfaces Materials obtained fro
Precipitation of inorganic crystals organic matter of soil produce
by decomposition of plant o
Organic fouling animal matte
Deposition of fat, oil, protein etc

Particle fouling
Deposition of clay, humic particles etc

Biofouling
Deposition and growth of microorganis
on surfaces – particles that can multiply
the expense of nutrie
Undesired accumulation of
microorganisms, plants, algae and
animals
 Why is this important?
 What are the effects of biofouling?
 Why should we study this?
Because Biofouling has a bright future
Slime and mold behind washing soap intake box

Slime formation in tubes


Clothes are smelly if not dried properly
Toilet rinsing water reservoir
red and dark brown colour:
Bacterial and fungal biofilms in
Calciferous incrustations
Potential problem:
Dispersion of aerosols when flushing
Inner tubes of showers
Keratitis due to non-compatible biofilm on contact lense
Biofouling on teeth: cause for bad smell and caries
Biofouling in dialysis unit
Microbial contamination of an injection syringe
Contamination pathways in
catheter application
Hole due to slime

Biofouling in Paper mills


Biofouling: a serious problem for cooling cycles in energy industry
Reduced Heat transfer
ncreased Drag resistance
Biocorrosion
Biofouling in water supply
 Also in power stations
Fouling community

Micro fouling Macro fouling


• Biofilm formation Attachment of layer organisms
• Bacterial adhesion Ex:
Barnacles
Anthropod in sea
Mussels
Many bristles for attachmentPolychaete worms
Bryozoans – sea mats
Sea weeds
Biofouling affects ships
severly
Leads to
• Decreased carrying capacity
• Increased (30%) fuel consumption
• Increased cost in maintenance
of shipping industry
• Increased (50%) marine transport
cost
How to tackle the
problem?

Antifouling Strategies?
Remove accumulation

Prevent accumulation
Not so effective
• Primarily used – “Organotins”
(Tin with
hydrocarbons)
• Most widely used example for organotins
– “TBT” or “TPT”

Tri Butyl Tin

Tri Phenyl Tin


• Most commonly used antifouling agent
• Used as coatings in ships
• Very effective – Get rid of biofouling
once forever
Coatings toxic to marine environment
So used in lower concentration – not
effective

an
d
Defective shell growth in Oyster (> 20 ng/l)
Before After

• Development of male characters in


female dog whelk (> 1 ng/l)
So, organotins banned !
Then what are the other methods?
• Cupronickels (Cu – 90% & Nickels –
10%) – tried for biofouling prevention.
Safety yet to be proved.
• Selection of metals – Ex. Zebra mussels
find Aluminium bronze distasteful. So
they avoid such metals
Disadvantages
• Not effective in ships that travel long
distance
• Biological and chemical nature of
microorganisms must be studied
Other methods…
• Titanium
• Chlorination
• Pulse laser irradiation – not species
specific
Fight nature with nature
itself (from worms) –
1.Nemertine pyridyl alkaloids
may be used for inhibition of
Barnacle larvae
2. Purified extract from Carribean sponges –
inhibit bacterial
attachment
3. Distaplia nathensis extract – inhibits mussel
4. Pseudoalteromonas sp. (marine bacteria) –
produces bioactive compounds with
inhibitory effect on algae and on barnacles
All the best

- Benedict

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