Examination of Chemical Adsorption and Marine Biofouling on Metal Surfaces Using Raman Scattering Techniques and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Abstract
A System has been developed to simulate biofouling of metal surfaces under a range of physical, chemical, and biological conditions. Items of equipment to eliminate and concentrate organic constituents from seawater and to analyze for proteins, glycoproteins, and carbohydrates have been acquired. Teflon fouling chambers have been developed to characterize surface properties of metals in seawater, i.e., adsorption of organic materials, using optical and electrochemical spectroscopic probes. Preliminary studies using these chambers and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy demonstrated ability to detect thin layers of pyridine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine adsorbed to silver electrodes. A system to perform waveguide Internal Reflectance Raman Spectroscopy (WIRRS) on thin films adsorbed to a substratum was developed and tested. During preliminary studies, an excellent Raman spectrum was obtained from a 1 micrometer layer of polystyrene. For Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), electronic hardware was acquired and software was developed to determine the impedance attributes of fouled metal coupons. Preliminary EIS studies using the enzyme, Ribulose Biphosphate Carboxylase, demonstrated the ability to detect adsorption of this protein to a silver electrode.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 13, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA203169
Entities
People
- Bruce E. Liebert
- Gordon T. Taylor
- Howard F. Mower
- Shiv K. Sharma
Organizations
- University of Hawaiʻi System