Development of fibrous and non-fibrous micro-nanostructured superhydrophobic surface using ZnO nanoparticles for anti-biofouling application in marine environment | |
| Author | Upadhyay, Astha |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-17-01 |
| Subject(s) | Composite materials. Nanofibers Fibrous composites Marine |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-17-01 |
| Abstract | This thesis deals with the development of environment friendly coating which is economical, easy to apply, and can be used for anti-biofouling application. Biofouling at macro and micro level pose a substantial threat for the oil and marine exploration industry. To evade this problem, various hierarchical micro-nanostructured coating systems were designed, and efficiency of low energy Superhydrophobic surface was tested on metal panels and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber in real marine conditions at Chulalongkorn Marine Research Station, Koh Sichang (Bight of Bangkok) for 15 weeks and 9 weeks, respectively. Among different coating systems, the arrangements comprising of ZnO Nanoparticles (ZnO NP) and perfluorinated hydrocarbon containing silica nanoparticles had less growth of Balanus barnacle (Cirripedia, Crustacea), when compared to the steel panels coated with commercially used epoxy primer paint which had barnacle as well as oysters (Ostrea edulis) attached to its surface. In addition, anti-corrosive properties of the designed surfaces were also enhanced. Furthermore, nanostructured fiber surface exhibited properties preventing attachment of barnacle. The results demonstrated that along with triggering the death of attached barnacles, the ZnO nanorod consisting fiber surface also displayed tendency to repel the attached barnacle. Apart from biofouling at macro scale, microfouling was observed on the coating (both fibrous and non-fibrous). Scanning electron microscope imagery showed the presence of dysfunctional microorganisms indicative of the antimicrobial properties of ZnO due to reactive oxygen species (ROS). The living microfoulers present on the coated surface comprised of 70% microalgae, 20-25% cyanobacteria and 5-10% diatoms, microscopic nematodes and bacteria. These microorganisms growing on underwater panels attracted vertebrate such as algal feeder fishes (at least three different species) which feed actively on this biofilm, creating a rich mesocosm. Induced Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy was done to scrutinize the environmental safety of the coating system, where samples were tested for ZnO leaching. |
| Year | 2017 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Hornyak, Louis;Nguyen, Thi Kim Oanh; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2017 |