Development of Graphene Based Anti-Biofouling Coating

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Aquaculture is increasing in importance, with over 60% of seafood products expected to come from farms by 2030 (UNFAO). It is a vital industry for global food security and estimated to be worth over $85 billion annually. Biofouling of nets and other submerged infrastructure represents a major challenge for the industry with estimates that dealing with it accounts for between 10% and 20% of all operational costs. Occluded nets mean that fouled and de-oxygenated water is not adequately exchanged with fresh water, resulting in loss of livestock and stressed, sick fish, which in turn increases the need for antibiotics. Current anti-biofouling technologies are overwhelmingly based on biocides, which over time build up in the environment and the feedstock itself, which is in turn ingested by humans. The current solutions are regarded by industry and regulators as inadequate. NanoRegMed has developed a novel hydrophobic and anti-bacterial graphene-based coating which has the potential to address this issue. The material, which is ten times stronger than steel, was developed in a medical context and mimics superhydrophobic surfaces that occur in nature, such as butterfly wings. The aim of this research and development is optimisation of the material as an anti-biofouling coating for aquaculture infrastructure. There is a very strong market demand for such a product.