Doctoral Themes - Proposals

Antifouling coatings inspired on azamacrocycles for water bio-decontamination (AQUACID)

Supervisors

Luis Gonçalo Alves, luis.g.alves@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Elisabete Silva, ersilva@fc.ul.pt

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa)

Project description

Water is a crucial resource for human development and survival and for that reason there is always the need to transport and retain it in a sustainable way. However, submerged surfaces suffer from biofouling, i.e. spontaneous colonization by aquatic organisms such as pathogenic microorganisms, which represents a major economic and environmental global concern. Currently, the tighter environmental protection legislation has restricted the use of conventional antifouling strategies, due to the continuous release of toxic and persistent compounds in aquatic ecosystems, also recalling for eco-friendly decontamination strategies. In compliance with this global aiming, this project is based on two key strategies: i) synthesis and characterization of novel azamacrocycle derivatives with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial/antifouling action with non-hazard properties; ii) immobilization of the compounds that display the most promising antifouling properties in suitable coating systems. Proof-of-concept of this novel approach will be provided at simulated and real scenarios (permission to acquire) which will validate its potential for the sustainability of aqueous stream systems with the minimization of health public risks and promoting environmental protection.

Keywords

Azamacrocycles, Biofouling, Coatings, Immobilization

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