Laser Spectroscopy for Marine Biofouling Analysis

In the present study, femtosecond Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy LIBS technique has been used to investigate the growth of biofouling on Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) panels submerged in the Indian Ocean for various stages of growth. The coupons were suspended in the Indian Ocean at a depth of 1m at a distance of 480 m from the shoreline. The panels were recovered from the sea at regular intervals of 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. Growth of fouling panels were monitored and related with contact angle measurements. Elemental characterization conducted with Femtosecond LIBS indicated the presence of the elements Al, Ca, N, Ba, and Na. The study would help in creating a database for marine biofouling.