Determination of the Biocide Econea® in Artificial Seawater by Solid Phase Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Biodegradation of third-generation organic antifouling biocides and their hydrolysis products in marine model systems

The environmental fate for some selected antifouling biocides, dichlofluanid, tolylfluanid, tralopyril, and medetomidine, is relatively poorly understood with nearly all data derived from the assessment reports. Water/sediment systems and biofilms were used to determine biodegradation of the antifouling biocides. Dichlofluanid and tolylfluanid are known to hydrolyze to form DMSA (N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenylsulfamide) and DMST (N,N-Dimethyl-N'-(4-methylphenyl)sulfamide), respectively. DMSA did not show biodegradation, but it was shown to transform abiotically into N,N-dimethylsulfamide (N,N-DMS). In contrast, the structurally similar DMST did show biodegradation with a half-life of 5.78 days. The resulting transformation product of the biodegradation of DMST is also N,N-DMS. N,N-DMS accounted for the majority of the mass balance after 27 days in the water/sediment systems. Moreover, the biofilm systems also degraded both DMSA and DMST to N,N-DMS. The hydrolysis product of tralopyril, called BCCPCA (3-bromo-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-cyano-1 H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid), was not metabolized in the experiments and remained persistent. For this compound, a new log K_ow of 2.47 was determined since the previously reported K_ow value seemed to overestimate sediment partitioning. Medetomidine was removed from the water/sediment system, though, not significantly more than the control. However, a transformation product (medetomidine-acid) was detected in the incubation but not in the control, pointing to limited biodegradation. These results show that tolylfluanid can be rapidly removed by biodegradation in the marine environment, while dichlofluanid, tralopyril, and medetomidine remained in the system for a longer period of time. The prolonged stability of these biocides could mean that there is potential for accumulation in the environment. This potential is also there for the DMSA (dichlofluanid) and DMST (tolylfluanid) derived transformation product N,N-DMS, which was recalcitrant.

Antimicrobial Ceramic Filters for Water Bio-Decontamination

Bio-contamination of water through biofouling, which involves the natural colonization of submerged surfaces by waterborne organisms, is a global socio-economic concern, allied to premature materials bio-corrosion and high human health risks. Most effective strategies release toxic and persistent disinfectant compounds into the aquatic medium, causing environmental problems and leading to more stringent legislation regarding their use. To minimize these side effects, a newly non-biocide-release coating strategy suitable for several polymeric matrices, namely polydimethylsiloxane and polyurethane (PU)-based coatings, was used to generate antimicrobial ceramic filters for water bio-decontamination. The best results, in terms of antimicrobial activity and biocide release, showed an expressed delay and a decrease of up to 66% in the population of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on ceramic filters coated with polyurethane (PU)-based coatings containing grafted Econea biocide, and no evidence of biocide release after being submerged for 45 days in water. Biocidal PU-based surfaces were also less prone to Enterococcus faecalis biofilm formation under flow conditions with an average reduction of 60% after 48 h compared to a pristine PU-based surface. Biocidal coated filters show to be a potential eco-friendly alternative for minimizing the environmental risks associated with biofouling formation in water-based industrial systems.

The occurrence of modern organic antifouling biocides in Danish marinas

Antifouling biocides are known to leach out of paints and into the aquatic environment. There is currently a data gap on the occurrence of the current antifouling biocides, as legislative changes caused a change in the antifouling market. Therefore, a comprehensive monitoring study was performed across 13 Danish marinas, both waters and sediments were analyzed, including a transect and a study with seasonal resolution. Three biocides, i.e., Medetomidine, Tralopyril, and DCOIT were not detected in any of the samples. More commonly found, in 11 of the 13 marinas, were the hydrolysis products of Dichlofluanid (DMSA) and Tolylfluanid (DMST). These biocides rapidly dropped in concentration and reached background levels around 200 m from the source. The antifouling biocide Irgarol 1051 was found in all sediment samples and half of all water samples. The concentrations of Irgarol were lower than previously monitored. The decrease can likely be attributed to legislative changes and its disapproval for use since 2016.

Engineering and Application Perspectives on Designing an Antimicrobial Surface

Infections, contaminations, and biofouling resulting from micro- and/or macro-organisms remained a prominent threat to the public health, food industry, and aqua-/marine-related applications. Considering environmental and drug resistance concerns as well as insufficient efficacy on biofilms associated with conventional disinfecting reagents, developing an antimicrobial surface potentially improved antimicrobial performance by directly working on the microbes surrounding the surface area. Here we provide an engineering perspective on the logic of choosing materials and strategies for designing antimicrobial surfaces, as well as an application perspective on their potential impacts. In particular, we analyze and discuss requirements and expectations for specific applications and provide insights on potential misconnection between the antimicrobial solution and its targeted applications. Given the high translational barrier for antimicrobial surfaces, future research would benefit from a comprehensive understanding of working mechanisms for potential materials/strategies, and challenges/requirements for a targeted application.

Characterization of Biofilm Formation and Coating Degradation by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Recent findings showed severe localized corrosion of submerged steel bridge piles in a Florida bridge and was associated with microbial activity in the presence of marine foulers. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) can cause severe degradation of submerged steel infrastructure with the presence of biofilm associated with microorganisms such as sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). Coatings have been developed to mitigate MIC and marine fouling. Coating degradation and disbondment can occur as a result of microbial attack due to the production of metabolites that degrade coating chemical and physical properties. In the work described here, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was conducted to identify microbial activity and degradation of an antifouling coating exposed to SRB-inoculated modified Postgate B solution. The measurements resulted in complicated impedance with multiple loops in the Nyquist diagram associated with the coating material, development of surface layers (biofilm), and the steel interface. Deconvolution of the impedance results and fitting to equivalent circuit analogs were made to identify coating characteristics and surface layer formation. EIS test results revealed coating degradation and subsequent formation of surface layers associated with SRB due to coating self-polishing and depletion of biocide components.