Sustainable Approaches to Monuments of Cultural Heritage (original) (raw)

Microorganisms in the Deterioration and Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Microorganisms in the Deterioration and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, 2021

An understanding of the different microbial constellations or microbiomes, which every habitat and every organism harbor, will be the key to addressing many of the challenges humanity will face in the twenty-first century. Such comprehension could launch several innovations relating to natural and cultural capital, including historical and artistic heritage. In relation to cultural heritage, microorganisms are mainly known through their role as deteriogens, but the features creating damage can be exploited positively, attaining more sustainable restoration strategies, in accordance with the principles of compatibility and retreatability deriving from reflections on the Cultural Heritage inspired by the Charter of Venice (International charter for the Conservation and restoration of monument and sites (the Venice Chart 1964). In: ICOMOS, IInd International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments, 1964) onwards. In this article, we show a series of case studies, u...

Role of Bacterial Communities to Prevent the Microbial Growth on Cultural Heritage

2020

Different microorganisms have a considerable and important role in maintenance and prevention of cultural heritage buildings or different materials from deterioration. They have key role in deterioration processes. So, there is an urgent need to upgrade and apply new technologies and methods to identify the responsible microorganisms and manage them by using eco-friendly methods. However, there is a common consent that microorganisms play a significant role in the deterioration of cultural heritage, along with the same few microbes also play a significant role as a biocleaning agents, for the conservation of such type of materials. Recent research is carried out in this field where few microbial especially bacterial strains have been utilized as bio cleaning agents, which are frequently used in the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage. In this book chapter, we are highlighting the concerned common deteriorating agents and its control by using different strategies, with ...

Biotechnology applied to cultural heritage: biorestoration of frescoes using viable bacterial cells and enzymes

Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2005

Aims: To set up and employ, for the biorestoration of cultural heritage (altered frescoes), an advanced and innovative biotechnology method based on the sequential use of whole viable bacterial cells and specific enzymes. Methods and Results: The bioremediation intervention consisted of the direct application onto an artwork surface of whole bacterial cells of the Pseudomonas stutzeri A29 strain (bioaugmentation), followed by, in a final step, a purified Protease enzyme. The bioremediation was performed on a Spinello Aretino fresco that had become altered by the animal glue residues of past restoration. For the reader's interest the fresco is the 14th century Conversione di S. Efisio e battaglia (Conversion of S. Efisio and battle), size 3AE5 · 7AE8 m at the Pisa Camposanto Monumentale, Italy. An assessment was made of the final costs of the biological tests (whole bacterial cells, enzymes) so as to compare them with other intervention techniques. Conclusions: A successful innovative biological approach to recover valuable frescoes was set up, and the best conditions for treatment efficiency were identified. Furthermore the cost of the biological cleaning using viable bacterial cells and enzymes (P. stutzeri, Protease, Collagenase, 1 : 3 : 10, ratio respectively) was much lower than that of other conventional methods, making this biotechnology not only very interesting but also very competitive. Significance and Impact of the Study: New biotechnologies with an innovative, soft approach to the ÔbiocleaningÕ and ÔbiorestorationÕ of cultural heritage are in constant demand, and our results are clear evidence that such an approach has been achieved; the technique could be of significant importance towards developing other goals.

Microbial biodeterioration of cultural heritage and identification of the active agents over the last two decades

Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2022

Geochemical cycles result in the chemical, physical, and mineralogical modification of rocks, eventually leading to formation of soil. However, when the stones and rocks are a part of historic buildings and monuments, the effects are deleterious. In addition, microorganisms also colonize these monuments over a period of time, resulting in formation of biofilms; their metabolites lead to physical weakening and discoloration of stone eventually. This process, known as biodeterioration, leads to a significant loss of cultural heritage. For formulating effective conservation strategies to prevent biodeterioration and restore monuments, it is important to know which microorganisms are colonizing the substrate and the different energy sources they consume to sustain themselves. With this view in scope, this review focuses on studies that have attempted to understand the process of biodeterioration, the mechanisms by which they colonize and affect the monuments, the techniques used for assessment of biodeterioration, and conservation strategies that aim to preserve the original integrity of the monuments. This review also includes the Bomics^technologies that have started playing a large role in elucidating the nature of microorganisms, and how they can play a role in hastening the formulation of effective conservation strategies.

Applied microbiology and biotechnology in the conservation of stone cultural heritage materials

Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 2006

The contribution of applied microbiology and biotechnology for the preservation and restoration of culturally relevant stoneworks has been used only to a minor extent. Until recently it only involved the identification of the living organisms accountable for the deterioration of those materials by classic phenotypic identification methods. This seems to be changing, given the amount of work recently published that focuses in the introduction of molecular-based techniques for the detection of microorganisms in historic stone. Such techniques complement and expand the information up till now gathered by conventional identification methods. Along with this, efforts are being made to develop and implement bio-based methodologies that may actively contribute to the bioremediation of weathered historic stoneworks. The present minireview aims to provide an overview of recent findings on these matters.

MINI-REVIEW Microbial deterioration of cultural heritage and works of art — tilting at windmills?

Microorganisms (bacteria, archaea and fungi), in addition to lichens and insect pests, cause problems in the conservation of cultural heritage because of their biodeteriorative potential. This holds true for all types of historic artefacts, and even for art made of modern materials, in public buildings, museums and private art collections. The variety of biodeterioration phenomena observed on materials of cultural heritage is determined by several factors, such as the chemical composition and nature of the material itself, the climate and exposure of the object, in addition to the manner and frequency of surface cleaning and housekeeping in museums. This study offers a review of a variety of well-known biodeterioration phenomena observed on different materials, such as stone and building materials, objects exhibited in museums and libraries, as well as human remains and burial-related materials. The decontamination of infected artefacts, exhibition rooms and depots incurs high expenditure for museums. Nevertheless, the question has to be raised: whether the process of biodeterioration of cultural heritage can or should be stopped under all circumstances, or whether we have to accept it as a natural and an implicit consecution of its creation. This study also highlights critically the pros and cons of biocide treatments and gives some prominent examples of successful and unsuccessful conservation treatments. Furthermore, an outlook on the future research needs and developments in this highly interesting field is given.