Bio-Based Anti-Biofoulant with Copper(II) as Intramolecular Catalyst for Radicals Formation

Highly efficient and eco-friendly antimicrobial agents are crucial to the development of future marine antifouling coatings. A high efficient and low bio-toxicity bio-based anti-biofoulant, 2,5-diformylfuran dioxime chelating with copper ions ( E -DFFD-Cu), is evaluated. Its minimal bactericidal concentration and the concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC 50 ) are 4.95 and 7.03 µmol L −1 , respectively. Excellent anti-biofouling performance in marine environment in situ can be kept at least 90 days and with maximum release rate of copper ion of 0.01 µmol cm −2 d −1 . Alkyl radical (R·) and hydrogen radical (H·) derived from E -DFFD are enhanced via chelating copper(II) catalysis, which attracts and disrupts microbe cell membrane and pili between intimate cells, resulting in excellent anti-biofouling effect. This provides a new perspective for developing anti-biofoulant from anti-biofouling mechanism in the future.