Biofouling of marine phytoplankton on the lithium recovery adsorbents from pilot plant in Gangneung, Korea

Occurring of marine biofouling is the colonization of microorganisms, plants, and animal on submerged aquatic surfaces of underwater structures is commonly known to increase operational and maintenance costs. Bacteria and diatoms are among the first organisms that attach to surface and form natural biofilms are highly variable over time and heterogeneous in composition. To understand of marine biofouling by phytoplankton on the lithium recovery adsorbent's surface, on-site experiment carried out in Okgye, Gangneong, Korea. The lithium recovery adsorbents exposed to seawater for a certain period of time and collected by 7-day, 14-day and 21-day after, in May and in August. Attachment phytoplankton on adsorbent was detached into sterilization seawater. Of these phytoplankton were counted and identified using optical microscope. CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscope) was used to detect the degree of defacement on lithium manganese oxide surface. The samples were stained DRAQ5 to 1/1000. The morphology of the microorganisms was examined with field emission scanning electron microscope FE-SEM. According to the result in May, phytoplankton abundance was increased as longer exposure time. However, in August, biomass of phytoplankton was higher in 7-day exposure sample than 14-day after. Through the experimental periods Cylindrotheca sp. which involved in Bacillariophyceae were dominant species.