Impressed Current Anti Fouling (ICAF) to Reduce Population of Chlorella Vulgaris Cause Bio Corrosion on AH36 Steel in Marine Environment

Abstract

Corrosion can cause damage to steel. One of the main causes of corrosion is biofouling. The Impressed Current Anti Fouling (ICAF) method is one way to prevent the microfouling. The purpose of the study was to calculate reduction of Chlorella Vulgaris population using a simple ICAF system. The simple ICAF reactor was operated with variation of electric current (0.3, 0.5 and 1 A) and duration time (5, 7 and 10 min). Steel of AH36 has a role as a cathode, meanwhile pure copper (Cu) was an anode. The cell number of Chlorella Vulgaris was determined using haemacytometer method. The concentration of Cu was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers (AAS). Based on the results, the simple ICAF system showed the decreasing of Chlorella Vulgaris cell number with the highest percentage of 99.98% at electrical current of 1 A, duration time of 10 min and concentration of Cu (17.9 ± 0.07 mg/L). Meanwhile, the lowest of the cell number reduction was 97.57% at electrical current of 0.3 A, duration time of 5 min and concentration of Cu (15.52 ± 0.25 mg/L). In conclusion, ion Cu that was produced during operation simple ICAF system can reduce Chlorella Vulgaris population.