Anti-Fouling Properties of Phosphonium Ionic Liquid Coatings in the Marine Environment.

Polymers (Basel)

Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

Published: September 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • Biofouling is the accumulation of marine organisms on submerged surfaces, and this research evaluates phosphonium ion gels with varying components for their effectiveness as anti-fouling agents.
  • Experiments were conducted in a seachest simulator in New Zealand, analyzing the impact of hydrophobicity and copper(II) oxide concentrations on anti-fouling performance.
  • Results indicated that formulations with higher hydrophobicity performed better, while the copper biocide increased hydrophilicity, negatively affecting overall anti-fouling effectiveness.

Article Abstract

Biofouling is the buildup of marine organisms on a submerged material. This research tests the efficacy of phosphonium ion gels comprising phosphonium monomers ([P][AOT] and [P][AOT]) and free ionic liquid ([P][AOT], [P][AOT]) (10 to 50 wt%), varying copper(II) oxide biocide concentrations (0 to 2 wt%), and the docusate anion [AOT] for added hydrophobicity. The efficacy of these formulations was tested using a seachest simulator protected from light and tidal currents in New Zealand coastal waters over the summer and autumn periods. Anti-fouling performance was correlated with the hydrophobicity of the surface (water contact angle: 14-131°) and biocide concentration. Formulations with higher hydrophobicity (i.e., less free ionic liquid and longer alkyl chain substituents) displayed superior anti-fouling performance. The presence of the copper(II) biocide negatively affected anti-fouling performance via significant increases to hydrophilicity. No correlation was observed between antimicrobial activity and anti-fouling performance. Overall, phosphonium ion gels show potential for combining anti-fouling and foul release properties.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10534580PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym15183677DOI Listing

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