Combating biofouling with ultraviolet light
Microorganisms, algae and other marine residents accumulate on scientific instruments that remain submerged in the ocean for an extended period of time. This phenomenon is called biofouling and it negatively impacts the quality of data collected during long-term measurement campaigns. The BRIMOM research consortium received support from the EESD Programme to develop and test instrumentation resistant to biofouling. One approach involved the use of short-wave ultraviolet light, known as UV-C, which has proven germicidal properties. The research was overseen by scientists with the University Marine Biological Station of the University of London. The effectiveness of low-pressure UV-C lamps of varying intensity was analysed in a laboratory setting. The experiments revealed that it was possible to successfully limit biofouling by pulsing relatively low levels of UV-C light through a special optical window onto the instrument surface. Furthermore, although the technology is not yet fully mature, UV-C lamps based on Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be able to offer the same benefits with lower power requirements and simpler configurations. The University Marine Biological Station scientists have shared these results with the research community through dedicated publications.
