Novel approach for quantitative estimation of antifouling activity in marine paint

Biofouling and biofilm formations are of great concern to many modern industries, including marine, food, water, mining and medical field. The shipping industry has serious problems with biofouling (complex communities of marine organisms) on most surfaces submerged in seawater. This leads to problems such as increasing water resistance, fuel consumption and microbial corrosion of metal surfaces. The primary fouling agents on aquatic surfaces exposed to light happen to be algae and diatoms, whereas fungi and bacteria follow the trend, forming a biofilm on the surface. This further attracts the crustaceans and molluscs, which are responsible for macro-fouling. Various components such as tin, arsenic, mercury, lead and copper are used as the biocides. These components are polluting the environment affecting the marine life. The paper contents the use of herbal extract as the antifouling agent and approach for quantitative estimation of the antifouling activity of the Curcuma longa extract as compare to that of tin.