Abstract

Marine biofouling is a natural process, which is initiated by the adsorption of organic and mineral molecules, followed by the adhesion of microfouling (bacteria and microalgae principally) and macrofouling (macroalgae and invertebrates). Biological fouling can bring about some unwanted and detrimental economic and environmental consequences to marine surfaces. Several ways to combat against fouling have been developed. Most of them include the use of polymeric coatings blended with metals as copper and/or toxic organic compounds. For almost 50 years, commercial antifouling (AF) paints used tributyltin (TBT), a broad-spectrum biocide formulated in copolymer paints with cuprous oxide. Unfortunately, paints are highly toxic for many aquatic organisms and severe toxic effects on marine ecosystems have been observed.