Progress 06/15/14 to 02/14/15
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience reached by this USDA SBIR Phase I research in the first four (4) months includes: 1. Fisheries biologists 2. Aquaculture researchers 3. Aquaculture firms (shell and finned fish farmers and corporations) 4. Aquaculture gear manufacturers (cage, wire, netting, etc.) 5. Aquaculture gear distributors 6. Coatings suppliers (suppliers of copper-based coatings to the aquaculture industry) 7. Raw material suppliers (materials used to manufacture feed, pharmaceuticals, gear, etc) Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? ePaint Company employed an undergraduate student, Ms. Summer Tompkins, as a laboratory technician from May 15 to August 15, 2014. Ms. Tompkins is in her second year of study at Ohio Wesleyan. She is studying neuroscience. Phase I funds were used to employ Ms. Tompkins to assist Principle Investigator, Myles Walsh, with soy resin synthesis, and samples preparation. Ms. Tomkins was trained to perform coatings properties testing following American Standard Testing Methodologies (ASTM). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? ePaint Company began identifying communities of interest for Phase I and Phase II research shortly after notification of a Phase I award from the USDA. The Phase I work plan and results from the first four (4) months of research were disseminated to angel investors, aquaculture companies, and global coatings manufactures. In addition, ePaint Company submitted an abstract to the Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Exposition (January 15-17, 2015) and Myles Walsh will present results from this USDA SBIR Phase I effort at the "Predators, Nuisance Species, and Biofouling" Session on January 15, 2014. ePaint Company secured investment in novel antifouling coating technology resulting from USDA SBIR Phase I research as well as partners for Phase II & III research and development efforts. Angel Investors ePaint Company launched Netminder LLC, www.netminder.us in 2013 to market eco-friendly sustainable materials to the aquaculture industry. NETMINDER LLC is led by Steve Fisher. Mr. Fisher has forty (40) years of global coatings business management experience, thirty five (35) years with PPG Industries. He left his last position with PPG as Global Director of Marine Coatings to concentrate on the aquaculture industry and its protective coating requirements. His last seven (7) years has been spent consulting and developing knowledge and relationships within the aquaculture industry. Mr. Fisher identified two angel investors for NETMINDER LLC in 2014 and raised $300K to facilitate the launch of venture. ePaint Company through NETMINDER LLC is well positioned to commercialize antifouling coating technology resulting from USDA funded research. Aquaculture Companies ePaint Company, through Steve Fisher and NETMINDER LLC, shared preliminary results presented in this progress report with global aquaculture companies that have expressed interest in conducting demonstrations with antifouling coating technology resulting from Phase I research. Global Coatings Manufacturers: ePaint Company and NETMINDER LLC have executed non-disclosure agreements with global protective coating suppliers and are negotiating terms for testing novel non-toxic photoactive release coatings for biofouling control for the purpose of identifying potential fields of use. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Characterization of coating properties will be the focus of work performed over the final four months of this Phase I research effort. Photoactivity testing as determined by measuring peroxide generation from test coatings in a laboratory setting is also planned. In-water fouling resistance testing is ongoing, and a second round of test surface (panels) is planned for February '15. Results from coating characterization testing, peroxide generation, in-water biofouling resistance testing will be presented in a comprehensive final report. Coating characterization planned for the next reporting period includes coating surface energy measurement, bond strength measurements, and durability and lubricity tests.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Novel soy based polymers were developed in the first two months of Phase I research that facilitate the photoactive release of biofouling. Results from biofouling resistance testing, performed at the University of Connecticut (Avery Point Campus), on PVC test panels demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach for minimizing biofouling on aquaculture gear. Soy-based photoactive coating formulations are free of biofouling after two (2) months in Connecticut waters when biofouling is most prolific, August 29th to October 30th. The group of soy-based coatings determined most effective comprise the photoactive soy-based resin, and fumed titania doped with a photosensitizer. Fouling resistance (FR) ratings of 90±5 were achieved (ASTM D6990) after two months exposure. The combination of materials prevents biofouling better than the copper-based product FLEXGARD XI, tested as a positive control (FR of 48±17). FLEXGARD XI is marketed to the global fish farming industry (primarily salmon) for use on smolt, market, and predator nets. Results from Phase I demonstrate the potential utility of the proposed soy-based photoactive release coating for controlling biofouling on aquaculture gear. Solving the biofouling problem through the use of non-toxic and bio-based photoactive coating technology significantly benefits the aquaculture industry. Though much work remains to prove out the utility of this technology, preliminary results from the first few months of Phase I research demonstrate the efficacy of using photoactive polymers for biofouling control. Commercialization of this technology will improve aquaculture efficiencies and increase the competitiveness of the US aquaculture industry. Clean gear facilitates faster growth rates, healthier product, and increases output. Farms will be more profitable as fewer gear changes and minimal cleaning requirements will reduce maintenance costs. Non-toxic antifouling coating technology discovered in Phase I may also be applied to the military, commercial, and recreational marine ship hull coating industries. Novel biofouling release coatings based on soybean oil-based polymers and a patented hydrogen peroxide-eluting mechanism for protecting aquaculture gear were discovered in Phase I research, and biofouling resistance was demonstrated through field tests in Connecticut waters. Phase I release coatings are composed of unsaturated soy-derived waterborne polyurethane, a polyhydroxylated filler, and emulsified soybean oil incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles and a phosphotungstate catalyst for promoting chain cleavage in the presence of light-generated hydrogen peroxide. The light-induced generation of hydrogen peroxide serves three roles in the functional coating: 1) oxidizes single celled organisms and biofouling larvae, 2) photochemically generates polyaldehydes, and 3) facilitates erosion of the outer coating surface for self-polishing. Soy-based photoactive release coatings form uniform adherent films that are stable in water and resist biofouling for two (2) months in Connecticut waters. Results from biofouling resistance testing demonstrate the feasibility of using soy-based photoactive release coatings to protect aquaculture gear from biofouling. In preparation of the Phase I final report, we will evaluate soy-based coatings properties such as hardness, flexibility and adhesion. Testing will be performed on plastics used to fabricate aquaculture gear such as PVC, poly propylene, HDPE and nylon. We will continue to optimize photoactivity of soy-based photoactive coatings by varying the catalyst chemistry and concentration. Activity will be measured by hydrogen peroxide generation tests. Biofouling resistance testing is ongoing and a second deployment of test surfaces is planned for January 15, 2014. ePaint Company will continue soy-based photoactive antifouling coating development though out 2015.
Publications
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Progress 06/15/14 to 02/14/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by this USDA SBIR Phase I research includes: 1. Fisheries biologists 2. Aquaculture researchers 3. Aquaculture firms (shell and finned fish farmers and corporations) 4. Aquaculture gear manufacturers (cage, wire, netting, etc.) 5. Aquaculture gear distributors 6. Coatings suppliers (suppliers of copper-based coatings to the aquaculture industry) 7. Raw material suppliers (materials used to manufacture feed, pharmaceuticals, gear, etc) Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?ePaint Company employed an undergraduate student, Ms. Summer Tompkins, as a laboratory technician from May 15 to August 15, 2014. Ms. Tompkins is in her second year of study at Ohio Wesleyan. She is studying neuroscience. Phase I funds were used to employ Ms. Tompkins to assist Principle Investigator, Myles Walsh, with soy resin synthesis, and samples preparation. Ms. Tomkins was trained to perform coatings properties testing following American Standard Testing Methodologies (ASTM). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?ePaint Company presented Phase I findings results at the Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Exposition (January 15-17, 2015). Posters were also presented at the 107th National Shellfisheries Association Meeting held March 22-26, 2015 (Monterey, CA), and at the World Aquaculture Conference held May 26-30, 2015 (Jeju, Korea). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Phase I research demonstrated the feasibility us using soy-based polymers as photoactive release coatings for biofouling control. These polymers are engineered to react with visible light and release biofouling by the gradual breakdown of the surface binder resin catalyzed by the photochemical generation of peroxides for polymer scission. Novel soy based polymers were developed that facilitate the photoactive release of biofouling. Results from biofouling resistance testing, performed at the University of Connecticut (Avery Point Campus in Groton, Connecticut), on PVC test panels demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach for minimizing biofouling on aquaculture gear. Soy-based photoactive coating formulations resist biofouling in Connecticut waters during summer months when biofouling is most prolific. VOC-free emulsions of block copolymers that are 60% by weight solids refined soybean oil were developed that are stable, with no settling after six months. Resin emulsions are low odor and waterborne, and air dry to form good adherent films on glass, metal, plastic, and composite substrates. Soy-based resin emulsions used to formulate photoactive release coatings with semiconducting photocatalysts. Two grades of TiO2 were used for testing, anatase and rutile. Catalysts disclosed in US Patents 5,916,947 & 6,063,849 were used to enhance the photoactivity of TiO2 when exposed to visible light. All soy-based photoactive release coating formulations optimized in Phase I form dry films with excellent properties; water resistance, adhesion, flexibility and mar-resistance. Fouling resistance is determined by observing the degree to which test coupons are colonized by fouling organisms. The density (number of macrofouling organisms per test area) and diversity (number of different species of fouling organism per test area) of the fouling are recorded monthly. Fouling resistance ratings (F.R.), following ASTM D6990, are based on the average of five test surfaces rated by counting numbers of organisms and estimating percent cover on test surfaces. Test surfaces with low ratings are more fouled. A rating of 100 describes a surface free of all biofouling. The group of soy-based coatings determined most effective comprise the photoactive soy-based resin, and fumed titania doped with a photosensitizer. A fouling resistance (F.R.) rating of 85±5 was achieved after fifteen weeks exposure. Soy-based test formulas prevent biofouling better than the copper-based (26% copper) product FLEXABAR XI, tested as a positive control (FR of 10±5). FLEXABAR XI is marketed to the global fish farming industry (primarily salmon) for use on smolt, market, and predator nets. Results from Phase I demonstrate the potential utility of the proposed soy-based photoactive release coating technology (SPRC) for controlling biofouling on aquaculture gear. Results from Phase I demonstrate the potential of the proposed soy-based photoactive release coating for controlling biofouling on aquaculture gear. Solving the biofouling problem through the use of non-toxic and bio-based photoactive coating technology significantly benefits the aquaculture industry. Though much work remains to prove out the commercial viability of this technology, Phase I research demonstrated the efficacy of using photoactive polymers for biofouling control. Commercialization of this technology will improve aquaculture efficiencies and increase the competitiveness of the US aquaculture industry. Clean gear facilitates faster growth rates, healthier product, and increases output. Farms will be more profitable as fewer gear changes and minimal cleaning requirements will reduce maintenance costs.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Sandra Shumway, Alex Walsh, Stephan Bullard and Steven Fisher.
FIELD TESTING OF NOVEL ANTIFOULING COATINGS FOR THE AQUACULTURE
INDUSTRY PRELIMINARY RESULTS. Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Exposition (January 15-17, 2015)
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