A marine biofilm flow cell for in situ screening marine fouling control coatings using optical coherence tomography. (15th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fabbri, Stefania; Dennington, Simon P.; Price, Clayton; Stoodley, Paul; Longyear, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 170(2018)
• Page Start: 321
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2018-12-15
• Subjects: Biofilms -- Marine biofilms -- Flow cell -- Fouling -- Drag -- OCT; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.10.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: A novel fouling marine flow cell was designed and fitted with a clear plastic lid to allow real-time imaging of biofilms using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Marine biofilms were grown under controlled shear flow on coupons coated with 6 different biocidal antifouling coatings (SPC1, SPC2, SPC3, SPC4, CDP1 and CDP2, AkzoNobel) and one inert coating which contained no biocidal actives (NB-D) for 8 weeks. One set of coupons coated with NB was statically immersed in sea water during the same time period (NB-S). Biofilm removal was assessed by increasing the flow velocity while OCT simultaneously measured the biofilm cross-sectional area (CSA). The highest initial removal rates were observed for NB-S, NB-D, and SPC2. Percent biofilm cross-sectional area reduction (%CSAred) was higher on SPCs (>60%) compared to CDPs (<50%). SPCs had the highest percent reduction in biofilm surface area coverage (%SACred >60%) compared to the CDPs (<20%). The marine biofilm flow cell combined with OCT can be used to screen for coating-specific differences in biofilm growth and removal in real time rather than traditional before and after surface area coverage measurements. Future testing will focus on how the biofilm-coatings interactions interact with biofilm mechanical and structural properties to produce drag.