ELECTROCHEMICAL PREVENTION OF MARINE BIOFOULING WITH A CARBON-CHLOROPRENE SHEET

A carbon-chloroprene sheet (CCS) electrode was used for the electroche mical disinfection of the marine gram-negative bacterium Vibrio algino lyticus. When the electrode was incubated in seawater containing 10(5) cells per ml for 90 min, the amount of adsorbed cells was 4.5 x 10(3) cells per cm2. When a potential of 1.2 V versus a saturated calomel e lectrode was applied to the CCS for 20 min, 67% of adsorbed cells were killed. This disinfection was due to the direct electrochemical oxida tion 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 bio fouling of a CCS-coated cooling pipe caused by attachment of bacteria and invertebrates was considerably reduced by application of a potenti al of 1.2 V versus a saturated calomel electrode. Since this method re quires low potential electrical energy, use of a CCS coating appears t o be a suitable method for the clean prevention of marine biofouling.