Biofouling

Biofouling is the undesirable accumualtion of microorganisms, plants, algae and animals on submerged structures, especially ships hulls. Biofouling is also found in membrane systems, such as membrane bioreactors and reverse osmosis spiral bound membranes. Biofouling is divided into Microfouling, a biofilm formation and bacterial adhesion and Macrofouling, an attachment of larger organisms, of which the main culprits are barnacles, mussels, polychaete worms, bryozoans and seaweed. marine biofouling is the undesirable growth of marine organisms on immersed artificial structures such as ship hulls, jetty pilings, navigational instruments, aquaculture net cages and seawater intake pipes.