BIOSTEM

BIOSTEM – A first step towards standardizing the test of resistance of materials to biofouling

In the marine environment, infrastructures and equipment are subject to the development of biofouling (micro and macro). They affect many sectors of activity and equipment related to the maritime environment such as naval, ORE, harbour, aquaculture, desalination facilities, cooling systems.

Currently, the solutions available on the market to fight against biofouling are mainly organic coatings releasing toxic active substances or chemical treatments that have an impact on the environment. The societal awareness on the preservation of the environment leads to regulatory and environmental constraints becoming more and more important and to a search by manufacturers for new solutions more respectful of the environment.

To evaluate the effectiveness of solutions to control biofouling, tests exist at the laboratory level or in situ. However, these latter do not fully meet the needs of standardized tests for manufacturers.

This is why CORRODYS, SMEL, BOREA (University of Caen Normandy), EDF and Naval Group launched in 2022 the BIOSTEM project (BIOsalissure Standardised for Materials Testing) with the aim of innovating in the field of materials qualification methods. The 3-year BIOSTEM project aims to develop a consortium of reference biosalissures that are stable in a controlled environment and can be used in future innovative standardized biocolonization tests.

This project, co-funded by the Normandy Region, is a first step towards the proposal of standardized biocolonization tests that will support the development of more environmentally friendly materials and solutions for the marine environment while ensuring the sustainability of infrastructure.

Funding: Région Normandie, EDF et Naval Group

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Coordinator: Hervé GUEUNE (Corrodys, hgueune@corrodys.com)

BOREA Project contact: Christelle CAPLAT (Borea-Unicaen), christelle.caplat@unicaen.fr