Satasiya Gopi, Kumar Madhava Anil, Ray Sanak
Marine Elements and Marine Environment Division, CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, 364 002, Gujarat, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
Department of Rural and Entrepreneurship Development, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chennai, 600 113, Tamil Nadu, India.
Environ Res. 2025 Mar 15;269:120943. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.120943. Epub 2025 Jan 23.
Biofouling is a common phenomenon caused by waterborne organisms such as bacteria, diatoms, mussels, barnacles, algae, etc., accumulating on the surfaces of engineering structures submerged under water. This leads to corrosion of such surfaces and decreases their moving efficiency. Conventional antifouling agents are synthetic chemicals which are hazardous to non-target species. Further, these agents are mixed with paints, releasing toxins in the water bodies that affect other organisms. Thus, the development of natural alternatives for anti-fouling chemicals is urgently needed. This review examines the development of environmentally friendly antifouling technologies, focusing on the switch from biocidal coatings that leach toxic elements like mercury and copper to sustainable substitutes such as hybrid, biomimetic, and nanotechnology-based antifouling solutions. Research also focuses on increasing antifouling properties and reducing environmental impact by incorporating natural antifouling agents and constructing hybrid coatings that include multiple technologies. The financial effects of implementing these new technologies compared to more conventional approaches highlight the significance of sustainable practices in the maritime industry. This thorough review sheds light on the state of antifouling technology. It recommends future research to maximize ecological compatibility and apply these advancements to broader applications.
生物污损是一种常见现象，由诸如细菌、硅藻、贻贝、藤壶、藻类等水生生物在水下工程结构表面积聚所致。这会导致此类表面的腐蚀并降低其运行效率。传统的防污剂是对非目标物种有害的合成化学品。此外，这些药剂与涂料混合后，会在水体中释放毒素，影响其他生物。因此，迫切需要开发防污化学品的天然替代品。本综述考察了环境友好型防污技术的发展，重点关注从浸出汞和铜等有毒元素的杀生涂层向诸如混合、仿生和基于纳米技术的防污解决方案等可持续替代品的转变。研究还聚焦于通过加入天然防污剂以及构建包含多种技术的混合涂层来提高防污性能并降低环境影响。与更传统的方法相比，实施这些新技术的财务影响凸显了可持续做法在海运业中的重要性。这一全面综述揭示了防污技术的现状。它建议未来开展研究以实现最大程度的生态兼容性，并将这些进展应用于更广泛的领域。
