Antifouling Performance and Long-Term Efficiency of a Zwitterionic Sulfobetaine-Hydroxyethyl Containing-Polymethylmethacrylate Ter-Co-Polymer Coating Against Biomass Producing Photosynthetic Strains

The antifouling performance of a zwitterionic Sulfobetaine-Hydroxyethyl containing-Polymethylmethacrylate ter-co-polymer (PSBM) is evaluated against three photosynthetic strains, namely Chlorella sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and Arthrospira maxima. PSBM coated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) surfaces displayed significantly reduced propensity for biofilm formation, compared to rough and untreated controls, leaving clean surfaces after 7 days of exposure. A tribological approach was adopted to estimate the long-term durability of the PSBM coating. Repeated cycles of exposure to Chlorella sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and A. maxima biomass subject the coating to stress and continuous biofilm challenge. After several cycles, the PSBM coating maintains a higher antifouling efficacy than untreated PMMA surfaces, suggesting stability and high potential in Photobioreactors application.