Development of natural plant products as environmentally safe inhibitors of marine biofouling

水生环境中人造建筑物的污染是包括航运和水产养殖在内的一系列行业的主要问题，据估计，全球每年的成本约为170亿美元。目前，解决这个问题的方法要么是昂贵的机械清洗，要么是使用化学防污剂。自2008年起，其中几种化学制剂将被禁止使用，因为它们对环境有很大的影响。该项目旨在通过评估一些植物来源的萜类化合物对关键的生物污损生物，即藤壶和被囊生物的定居的影响，开发环境安全的制剂来减少生物污垢。它还将开发合适的涂料，用于将它们的化合物输送到放置在海洋环境中的人造结构上。最后，它将为充分的商业开发寻找适当的途径。

The fouling of man-made structures in the aquatic environment is a major problem to a range of industries including shipping and aquaculture, and it is estimated that its global cost is ca. $17 billion each year. Currently, this problem is addressed by either expensive mechanical cleaning of structures or by the use of chemical antifoulants. As of 2008, the use of several of these chemical agents will be prohibited due to their potent environmental effects. This project aims to develop environmentally safe agents to reduce biofouling by assessing a number of plant-derived terpenes for their effect on the settlement of key biofouling organisms, namely barnacles and tunicates. It will also develop suitable paints for the delivery of their compounds on man-made structures placed in the marine environment. Finally, it will seek appropriate avenues for full commercial exploitation.