Biodam – Techniques to Study and Inhibit Biofilm Damage on Cultural Heritage Materials and Monuments

Title: Biodam – Techniques to Study and Inhibit Biofilm Damage on Cultural Heritage Materials and Monuments
Author(s): W. E. Krumbein, A. A. Gorbushina
Paper category : conference
Book title: Second International RILEM Workshop on Microbial Impact on Building Materials
Editor(s): M. Ribas Silva
Print-ISBN: None
e-ISBN: 2912143845
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Pages: 65 - 75
Total Pages: 11
Nb references: 30
Language: English

Abstract: Building materials such as stone, bricks and concrete or clay based materials often contain organic compounds and are very susceptible to growth of sub-aerial biofilms attacking the substrate they settle on. Chemical and physical biodeteriorative forces may be involved. Depending on the environmental conditions and water retention the surface biofilm may transform into networks going deeper into the material (biodictyon). Biocide treatments of monuments create health and environmental hazards. Thus research and development of new applications and treatments must concentrate on a minimal use of the least dangerous biocide substances. The latter must be as firmly as possible integrated into the materials. Otherwise very serious hazards may evolve. In this contribution a polyphasic treatment by biocides (compounds toxic for living organisms), so-called permeabilisers (compounds of low toxicity but making cells and cellular EPS envelopes penetrable for biocides), and physical (light) induction of the activity of both compound groups are described.
The development of such techniques is the topic and main objective of an R&D team supported by the cultural heritage program of the EU under the project name BIODAM. A brief survey is given of potential techniques as well as on the damage factors, responsibility and cost of repairing biofilm damage related to buildings with stone surfaces. An outlook is given on climatic situations under which biocide treatments are useful or should be avoided because due to climatic conditions the treatments would not be effective. This work was supported by EU project grant EVK4-CT2002-00098.

Online publication: 2004-06-25
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00