The ship cleaning industry is striving to become greener in the future with the use of more environmentally friendly cleaning agents. It has been found that the green muck that is often found at the base of ships can interrupt a smooth sail . In technical terms, they reduce the ships’ ‘propulsive power’. This ‘muck’ is usually composed of algae and barnacles. Barnacles are small invertebrates with a shell that cling themselves to ships. Experts have found that removing these organisms can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 40 percent.
The conventional method to remove these organisms has been with the use of an erosive system comprising toxic biocides. Lately, a comparatively more ecofriendly alternative using silicon with an oil additive has been coming into vogue. But studies by the GE Global Research Centre in the U.S have shown that organisms react differently to different type of silicon. The strain on the environment has called for more environmentally friendly measures.
Researchers in the University of Gothenburg, Sweden explained a “low emission” approach involving avermectins, which are a class of antibiotics. These university scientists found that releasing a small quantity of this antibiotic could inhibit the colonization process of the adult barnacle. But by doing so, the antibiotic could not disturb their attachment process. Hence this process was named post settlement inhibition (PSI) as it could only affect growth.
An alternative breakthrough was achieved by the researchers connected to the European Commission-funded project named AMBIO (Advanced Nanostructured Surfaces for the Control of Biofouling). This new discovery is foreseen as a perfect and more environmentally friendly alternative to toxic biocides. The concept involves the use of a coating paint. The chemical composition in the molecules in this coating paint will make it difficult for algae and barnacles to attach themselves on to the ships base and they will be removed with the water’s friction.
Although, it seems to be a better alternative than using toxic biocide, this new concept requires thorough consideration after an intensive study. For instance, scientists would like to know if the coating paint can last for five years on the ship. Once it passes the entire ‘practical’ and ‘safety’ criteria, it will be available commercially.
Via NanoWerk
