A new study led by Susana Gaudêncio, leader of the Blue Biotechnology & Biomedicine research lab, and a researcher of LAQV research unit, provides evidence that the use of Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (HDES) may pave the way for their use as alternative antifouling additives in marine paints and coatings. This work, published in ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., reveals the potential of using HDES as efficient, sustainable, non-toxic for targeted species marine fouling control agents.
Marine biofouling (i.e., accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae and/or other macroorganisms) negatively impacts submerged infrastructures, due to the high costs related to increased fuel consumption and harmful gas emissions caused by raised friction (drag) of vessels, damages caused to the infrastructures (corrosion, clogging of pipes and ruined components), maintenance and removal costs of encrusted organisms, as well as the time spent in dry dock. So far, there were no ideal sustainable, economic and environmentally benign solutions to deal with this natural phenomenon. The results described in this manuscript are a strong indication of the potential of this HDES to be sustainable and efficiently used in marine fouling control technologies.
Article:
Hydrophobic DES Based on Menthol and Natural Organic Acids for Use in Antifouling Marine Coatings
Sara Valente, Filipe Oliveira, Inês João Ferreira, Alexandre Paiva, Rita G. Sobral, Mário S. Diniz, Susana P. Gaudêncio*, and Ana Rita Cruz Duarte*