Eco-friendly restoration of historic buildings
Bio-film communities constitute one of the primary damaging sources for rocks and stones in European heritage buildings. Addressing this issue, biocides products have been employed, but the most effective of them are considered poisonous and therefore environmentally unhealthy. Alternatively, the BIODAM project focused on replacing the potentially toxic chemicals with natural biocides in the restoration processes. Using light induction techniques biocides, cell wall conditioners, and apoptosis signals can be applied into rock bio-films communities. For this purpose a photodynamic treatment device against deteriorating microorganisms was developed at the laboratory of environmental biotechnology. The prototype device has been extensively tested and screening studies showed that the photodynamic treatments can be sufficiently activated under natural light. A portable device for treating targeted surfaces in the field would not be necessary as sun light exposure is sufficient. The suitable combination of biocides with permeabilisers and photodynamic treatments was found a very promising, inexpensive and eco-friendly tool for protection of monuments. For more information click at: http://www.biogema.de/biodam(opens in new window)