Materials and Methods

Abstract

The invention relates to a substrate intended in use to contact a fouling agent, the substrate including a coating comprising polysaccharide, which coating serves to reduce or prevent fouling of the substrate caused by contact from the fouling agent, in comparison to an equivalent uncoated substrate. The invention also relates to the anti-fouling coating, to apparatus comprising such coating and to related methods of reducing or preventing fouling of a substrate intended in use to contact a fouling agent.

1 . A substrate intended in use to contact a fouling agent, said substrate including a coating comprising polysaccharide, which coating serves to reduce or prevent fouling of the substrate caused by contact from the fouling agent, in comparison to an equivalent uncoated substrate. 
     
     
         2 . An anti-fouling coating for a substrate that is intended in use to contact a fouling agent, wherein said coating comprises polysaccharide and wherein the coating serves to reduce or prevent fouling of the substrate caused by contact from the fouling agent, in comparison to an equivalent uncoated substrate. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus comprising a substrate intended in use to contact a fouling agent, said substrate including a coating comprising polysaccharide, which coating serves to reduce or prevent fouling of the substrate caused by contact from the fouling agent, in comparison to an equivalent uncoated substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the polysaccharide comprises starch or modified starch. 
     
     
         5 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the polysaccharide comprises a mixture of starches and/or modified starches. 
     
     
         6 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the polysaccharide comprises one or more of rice starch, maize starch, potato starch, dextrin starch, hydrolysed starch, octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch, alkaline-modified starch, bleached starch, oxidised starch, enzyme-treated starch, monostarch sulphate, distarch phosphate, acetylated starch, hydroxypropylated starch, hydroxyethyl starch, cationic starch and carboxymethylated starch. 
     
     
         7 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the polysaccharide comprises cellulose, hemicellulose, hydrolysed cellulose or a cellulose derivative. 
     
     
         8 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the polysaccharide comprises a mixture of celluloses, hemicelluloses, hydrolysed celluloses and/or cellulose derivatives. 
     
     
         9 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the cellulose, hydrolysed cellulose or cellulose derivative comprises one or more of cellulose I α  cellulose I β , cellulose II, cellulose III, cellulose IV, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose sulphate, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, ethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and acid hydrolysed cellulose. 
     
     
         10 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the coating further comprises protein or polypeptide bound to the polysaccharide. 
     
     
         11 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the protein or polypeptide comprises one or more of whey protein and casein. 
     
     
         12 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the polysaccharide comprises dextrin starch and octenyl succinic anhydride starch and the protein comprises casein. 
     
     
         13 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the substrate comprises one or more of metal, metal alloy, ceramic, glass, graphite, composite material, concrete or polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The substrate, coating or apparatus of any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the substrate comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 3  or any one of  claims 4  to  12  when dependent upon  claim 3  wherein the apparatus is or is an element of food, dairy or beverage processing equipment; a pump, pipe, conduit, connector or plumbing fitting; a heat exchanger, radiator, heating element, hot water service, kettle or jug; a commercial or domestic appliance, washing machine, dish washer, clothes washing machine, air conditioner; a marine or aquatic vehicle, structure or fixture; a window, windscreen, lens, bottle or storage vessel; a building component or vehicle panel. 
     
     
         16 . A method of reducing or preventing fouling of a substrate intended in use to contact a fouling agent, in comparison to an equivalent untreated substrate, which comprises treating the substrate with aqueous polysaccharide to produce a polysaccharide comprising coating on the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claims 16  wherein the polysaccharide comprises starch or modified starch. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the polysaccharide comprises a mixture of starches and/or modified starches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the polysaccharide comprises one or more of rice starch, maize starch, potato starch, dextrin starch, hydrolysed starch, octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch, alkaline-modified starch, bleached starch, oxidised starch, enzyme-treated starch, monostarch sulphate, distarch phosphate, acetylated starch, hydroxypropylated starch, hydroxyethyl starch, cationic starch and carboxymethylated starch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  19  wherein the polysaccharide comprises cellulose, hemicellulose, hydrolysed cellulose or a cellulose derivative. 
     
     
         21 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  19  wherein the polysaccharide comprises a mixture of celluloses, hemicelluloses, hydrolysed celluloses and/or cellulose derivatives. 
     
     
         22 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  19  wherein the cellulose, hydrolysed cellulose or cellulose derivative comprises one or more of cellulose I α  cellulose I β , cellulose II, cellulose III, cellulose IV, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose sulphate, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, ethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and acid hydrolysed cellulose. 
     
     
         23 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  22  wherein treating the substrate with aqueous polysaccharide is conducted using an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide of from about 0.5% to about 20% w/w. 
     
     
         24 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  22  wherein treating the substrate with aqueous polysaccharide is conducted using an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide of from about 1.0% to about 15% w/w. 
     
     
         25 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  22  wherein treating the substrate with aqueous polysaccharide is conducted using an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide of from about 2% to about 10% w/w. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  22  wherein treating the substrate with aqueous polysaccharide is conducted using an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide of from about 4% to about 8% w/w. 
     
     
         27 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  26  wherein treating the substrate with aqueous polysaccharide is conducted using an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide with pH of from about 3 to about 10. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the pH of the aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide is from about 5 to about 8. 
     
     
         29 . The method of any one of  claims 23  to  28  wherein the substrate is treated with said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the temperature is from about 65° C. to about 140° C. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the temperature is from about 85° C. to about 120° C. 
     
     
         32 . The method of any one of  claims 23  to  31  wherein the substrate is treated with said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide for a period of from about 1 hour to about 48 hours. 
     
     
         33 . The method of any one of  claims 23  to  31  wherein the substrate is treated with said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide for a period of from about 4 hours to about 12 hours. 
     
     
         34 . The method of any one of  claims 23  to  33  wherein said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide is flowing at a rate of from about 5 L/min to about 100 L/min. 
     
     
         35 . The method of any one of  claims 23  to  33  wherein said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of polysaccharide is flowing at a rate of from about 15 L/min to about 70 L/min. 
     
     
         36 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  35  further comprising treating the polysaccharide coated substrate with an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the protein or polypeptide comprises one or more of whey protein and casein. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the protein or polypeptide comprises casein. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of casein comprises from about 2% to about 16% w/w of casein. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of casein comprises milk or a casein comprising milk fraction. 
     
     
         41 . The method of any one of  claims 36  to  40  wherein treating the polysaccharide coated substrate with an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide is conducted using an aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide with pH of from about 4 to about 10. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the pH of the aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide is from about 6 to about 8. 
     
     
         43 . The method of any one of  claims 36  to  42  wherein the polysaccharide coated substrate is treated with said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide at a temperature of from about 65° C. to about 98° C. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the temperature is from about 75° C. to about 95° C. 
     
     
         45 . The method of any one of  claims 36  to  44  wherein the polysaccharide coated substrate is treated with said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide for a period of from about 15 mins to about 6 hours. 
     
     
         46 . The method of any one of  claims 36  to  44  wherein the polysaccharide coated substrate is treated with said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide for a period of from about 1 hour to about 2 hours. 
     
     
         47 . The method of any one of  claims 36  to  46  wherein said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide is flowing at a rate of from about 20 L/min to about 100 L/min. 
     
     
         48 . The method of any one of  claims 36  to  46  wherein said aqueous mixture, dispersion or solution of protein or polypeptide is flowing at a rate of from about 30 L/min to about 70 L/min. 
     
     
         49 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  48  further comprising a step of rinsing with water. 
     
     
         50 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  48  further comprising a step of rinsing with dilute alkali. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the dilute alkali is sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
         52 . The method of either  claim 49  or  claim 50  wherein the rinsing with water or dilute alkali is conducted at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 80° C. for a period of between about 5 mins and about 1 hour. 
     
     
         53 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  52  wherein the polysaccharide comprises dextrin starch and octenyl succinic anhydride starch and the protein comprises casein. 
     
     
         54 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  53  wherein the substrate comprises one or more of metal, metal alloy, ceramic, glass, graphite, composite material, concrete or polymer. 
     
     
         55 . The method of any one of  claims 16  to  53  wherein the substrate comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         56 . A substrate intended in use to contact a fouling agent that has been treated to reduce or prevent fouling in comparison to an equivalent untreated substrate, according to the method of any one of  claims 16  to  55 . 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus comprising the substrate of  claim 56 . 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57  which is an element of food, dairy or beverage processing equipment; a pump, pipe, conduit, connector or plumbing fitting; a heat exchanger, radiator, heating element, hot water service, kettle or jug; a commercial or domestic appliance, washing machine, dish washer, clothes washing machine, air conditioner; a marine or aquatic vehicle, structure or fixture; a window, windscreen, lens, bottle or storage vessel; a building component or vehicle panel.