Biofouling Control Using Nano Silicon Dioxide Reinforced Mixed-Charged Zwitterionic Hydrogel in Aquaculture Cage Nets

Biofouling in aquaculture cages negatively affects the farm productivity, and it requires huge sums of money and labor for its management. A superhydrophilic pseudozwitterionic hydrogel, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) + [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium (TMA) + 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (SA) copolymer, is considered as a potential antifouling agent. The present study aimed to synthesize a nano silicon oxide reinforced NIPA–TMA–SA mixed-charged zwitterionic hydrogel over polyaniline-coated polyethylene aquaculture cage nets through the in situ microwave reaction and to test its biofouling resistance. The study highlighted the formation of stable coating over polyethylene, four different treatments, and their effective inhibition of fouling compared with the untreated one. Six month’s immersions of treated nettings in the estuarine environments demonstrated that the biofouling inhibition by nano silicon oxide reinforced zwitterionic hydrogel-coated polyethylene was unable to satisfy the industrial standards but made the samples free from hard-shelled fouling organisms compared with untreated controls. More research is needed to improve the quality of the coatings. The mixed-charged zwitterionic hydrogel with nano silicon oxide showed medium hydrophilic nature. Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and spectroscopic evaluation showed the successful formation of hydrogel over the aquaculture cage net. Nano silicon oxide reinforced in the matrix through hydrogen and coordination bonding between NH2 and carbonyl of the polymeric chain, respectively.