Electrochemical prevention of marine biofouling with a carbon-chloroprene sheet.
A carbon-chloroprene sheet (CCS) electrode was used for the electrochemical disinfection of the marine gram-negative bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus. When the electrode was incubated in seawater containing 10 cells per ml for 90 min, the amount of adsorbed cells was 4.5 x 10 cells per cm. When a potential of 1.2 V versus a saturated calomel electrode was applied to the CCS for 20 min, 67% of adsorbed cells were killed. This disinfection was due to the direct electrochemical oxidation of cells and not to a change in pH or to the generation of toxic substances, such as chlorine. In a 1-year field experiment, marine biofouling of a CCS-coated cooling pipe caused by attachment of bacteria and invertebrates was considerably reduced by application of a potential of 1.2 V versus a saturated calomel electrode. Since this method requires low potential electrical energy, use of a CCS coating appears to be a suitable method for the clean prevention of marine biofouling.
Nakasono
S
S
Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184, Research Laboratory, Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., Minami, Fukuoka 815, and Development Department, Daiki Engineering Co., Ltd., Kashiwa, Chiba 277, Japan.
Burgess
J G
JG
Takahashi
K
K
Koike
M
M
Murayama
C
C
Nakamura
S
S
Matsunaga
T
T