This project, led by Prof. Dr. Levent ÇAVAŞ from the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Science at Dokuz Eylül University, aims to determine the release rates of biocidal agents in antifouling paints using HPLC. The project began in November 2022 and is planned to be completed in November 2024. It is currently ongoing with two scholarship holders in the Chemistry Department Laboratories of Dokuz Eylül University. This project is supported by TÜBİTAK within the scope of the TÜBİTAK-1001 program (Project Grant#122Z415).
This project will be the first in Türkiye to measure the release rates of biocidal agents contained in antifouling paints.
• What Do the Terms Biofouling and Antifouling Mean?
Artificial surfaces submerged in marine ecosystems become covered by microorganisms, plants, and animals known as fouling organisms. This natural phenomenon is called biofouling. Antifouling refers to the systems developed to prevent biofouling. Mankind has been working to prevent biofouling since ancient times, leading to the development of various antifouling applications over the years.
• What is Antifouling Paint? What is its Importance in Maritime Transportation?
Among antifouling applications, antifouling paints are the most commonly used and reliable method. However, these paints contain chemicals known as biocides, which have toxic effects on living organisms. Therefore, they are known as "toxic paints" (=zehirli boya) in Türkiye. If biofouling occurs on the submerged parts of ships, the weight of the ship increases as more organisms attach to it. This increased weight reduces the ship's maneuverability and increases fuel consumption. Besides the damage it causes to the maritime transportation sector, it also leads to unwanted outcomes such as increased CO2 emissions and the transfer of invasive marine species among ecosystems, disrupting the balance of these ecosystems. To solve these problems, the submerged parts of ships (such as the hull and propeller) must be coated with antifouling paints. However, it should not be forgotten that these paints have a lifespan and need to be renewed periodically.
• Why is it Necessary to Measure the Release Rates of Biocidal Agents in Antifouling Paints?
The chemicals in antifouling paints not only affect biofouling organisms but also negatively impact other non-target organisms in the marine ecosystem. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced regulations for these paints. According to these regulations, some biocides are banned from being used in paints, while others are allowed only within specific limits.
Until recently, antifouling paints were marketed based on their performance in field trials. However, this has changed with the introduction of a new regulation by the European Union. The Biocidal Products Regulation, used by the European Union, mandates an approval process that requires environmental risk assessments to be conducted before antifouling paints can be marketed. In line with this regulation, the estimated release rates of biocides and antifouling compounds in the paint into seawater must be determined. After determining the release rates, paints with a Risk Characterization Ratio above the threshold are labelled as harmful, and measures to reduce their harm are recommended. Paints below the threshold are labelled as having acceptable risk and can be marketed.
• What are the Work Packages of the Project?
In this project, the release rate of the biocidal agent Econea into seawater will be determined using the rotating cylinder method. However, Econea is not stable in aquatic environments and converts to 3-bromo-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-cyano-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (BCCPCA). Therefore, HPLC studies will be conducted on both Econea and BCCPCA in the project. In this context, the project consists of six work packages:
Preparation of Model Antifouling Paint and Synthesis of BCCPCA
HPLC-Validation Studies
Establishment of Release Test Setups and Conducting Tests
Solid Phase Extractions of Biocidal Agents from Artificial Seawater
Determination of Biocidal Agents in Extracted Samples
Determination of Release Rates of Biocidal Agents from Model and Commercial Antifouling Paints
What are the Potential Outcomes of the Project?
Before antifouling paints are marketed, it is expected that the release rates of biocidal compounds in their formulations will be determined and that they will be below the established threshold values. From this perspective, the project's subject is directly related to the "Innovative, Systemic Zero-Pollution Solutions Against the Negative Impacts of Persistent and Mobile Chemicals on Human Health, the Environment, and Nature" and "Solutions Aiming to Reduce Carbon Emissions in the Transportation Sector and Strengthen an Environmentally Friendly Transportation Infrastructure" topics under the "Priority R&D and Innovation Topics within the Scope of Compliance with the Green Deal" announced by TÜBİTAK. Thus, the project aims to develop paints that have been tested for biocidal release rates, comply with the Green Deal, and can compete with international antifouling paints.
Determining the release rates of biocidal agents in antifouling paints is a process that requires serious R&D efforts. Conducting this R&D process within academia and transferring the resulting know-how to the industry is of great importance for our country.
One of the potential outcomes of our project is the workshop planned within the scope of the project (1st National Antifouling Paint Workshop). During this workshop, in addition to the latest developments in antifouling paint technology, very important experimental results/methods obtained within the scope of the project aimed at improving the quality of antifouling paints will be shared with companies.
Another important outcome of the project is the trained human resources. Self-polishing paints are the most commonly used type of antifouling paint. However, we believe that the R&D work mentioned in this project is needed for domestically produced paints to have a competitive edge with the world's leading paint manufacturers. The project aims to employ the scholarship holders trained within the project in paint companies.
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