Next-gen bioadhesives helping shape the future of rubble stabilisation and reef restoration скачать в хорошем качестве

Next-gen bioadhesives helping shape the future of rubble stabilisation and reef restoration

Next-gen bioadhesives: helping shape the future of sustainable rubble stabilisation and reef restoration Lewis B, Bryan SE, Moghaddam L, Baker A, Barner L The potential for increasing accumulations and persistence of mobile and unconsolidated coral rubble debris on reefs can hinder coral recruitment and prevent reef regeneration and recovery. Currently, no interventions exist specifically designed to stabilise and bind coral rubble, which can be scalable, cost-effective and eco-friendly by not introducing foreign materials permanently into the reef environment. Underwater bioadhesives are a novel technological solution with wide potential applications in marine environments, such as for rubble stabilisation. Conventional adhesives formulated for air curing have been applied in reef restoration efforts; however, they frequently exhibit long-term ineffectiveness underwater. This is mainly due to the challenges posed by encountering biofilms and the necessity for underwater adhesion to bond to wet surfaces while excluding the water or biofilm to ensure long-term strength. Since 2021, we have been designing and testing various underwater bioadhesives from plant waste that are degradable, eco-friendly and cost-effective to produce. Over the past 12 months, improvements have been made to the bioadhesives, including a reduction in micro-toxicity at the interface of the bioadhesive and attached objects. Additionally, we have strengthened the adhesion and cohesion properties, enabling the bioadhesive to withstand wave forces exceeding 150 N, wave bed velocities of 0.55 m/s (the maximum possible in our laboratory), and channel flume water velocities of 1.4 m/s, which exceeds measured natural rubble mobilisation thresholds (0.50 m/s) and initial natural rubble binding strengths (approx. 10 N). The bioadhesives also foster additional interlocking of loose rubble under dynamic wave conditions in larger-scale wave flume testing, showing the potential to accelerate rubble binding at scale. With multiple versions currently undergoing testing, these underwater bioadhesives can be a versatile toolbox for various applications within reef restoration. From rapid equipment repair to device securement, deployment, and coral fragment outplanting, the current generation of bioadhesives demonstrates promising adaptability across the reef restoration landscape. Brett Lewis Queensland University of Technology [email protected] Reef Resilience Symposium 2024 Michaelmas Cay Room New technologies for restoration at scale session 2:15 PM Thursday, 18 April 2025