Nano CuO incorporated Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogel Coating over Surface Modified Polyethylene Aquaculture Cage Nets to Combat Biofouling

Abstract

Biofouling on aquaculture cage netting is a major
problem and its management costs the quarter of the
total budget. The present study aimed to develop
an antifouling coating over surface modified polyethylene
cage netting. Polyethylene nettings were
surface modified with polyaniline and the same
surface was coated with nano CuO incorporated
polyethylene glycol hydrogel. Strong and uniform
coating of polyaniline and hydrogel were formed
over the nettings. This was evidenced by FTIR, AFM
and SEM studies. The treated cage nets were
exposed to the test sites of Cochin estuary for three
months and they exhibited a significant reduction
in fouling compared to untreated nettings. The nano
CuO incorporated hydrogel coating was about 53%
more efficient than control. The CuO hydrogel was
semi hydrophilic in nature, defect-free and more
compact surface. These led to the protein inhibition,
thereby biofouling resistance. The coating is a
potential candidate for preventing biofouling in the
cage nets.