Objective
TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND OF THE MECHANISMS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DETERIORATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS, AND TO HELP PROVIDE A SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION.
A study has been carried out to characterize organic compounds and organisms present in weathered stones. Analysis was carried out by solvent extraction or by analytical pyrolysis, a flash thermal desorption and degradation method, which only requires microgram quantities of samples.
The black sulphated crusts deposited on the surfaces of historic buildings and monuments are composed of inorganic materials (mainly gypsum) and a complex mixture of organic compounds entrapped in the mineral matrix. There is a strong similarity between compounds present in the gaseous and particulate phases in urban atmospheres and those encountered in black crusts, (eg petroleum derivatives, smoke particles from wood combustion, biogenic components of aerosols).
Endolithic and epilithic cyanobacteria and algae were isolated from European cathedrals. Combining observations in both field and laboratory materials enabled analysis of the processes of colonization and development of cyanobacterial algal communities in the stone, as well as the mechanical deterioration produced. Some basic studies on diazotrophic growth of cyanobacteria were also undertaken. Fungi were found to be associated with cyanobacterial algal biofilms in building stones, from which they most probably derive much of their carbon requirements. They produced organic acids, which decompose mineral matter. Lichens and bryophytes were shown to be deterioration agents in different building materials. The colonization by these organisms gives rise to the later invasion by vascular plants, whose roots cause important deterioration in the structure of buildings. Lack of cleaning and maintenance of historic buildings and monuments is considered to be one of the major factors contributing to biological colonization and deterioration.
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS PRESENT IN THE CRUSTS OF WEATHERED STONES WILL BE INVESTIGATED. IN PARTICULAR TO ANALYZE AND COMPARE THEIR ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION; THEIR THICKNESS IN RELATION TO PETROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN TERMS OF LIMESTONE AND SANDSTONE DETERIORATION.
THE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS IN THE CRUSTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY CONCENTRATION, SOLVENT EXTRACTION, FRACTIONATION, AND SEPARATION FOLLOWED BY CHROMATOGRAPHY.
THE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ARE ALSO STUDIED DIRECTLY IN THE CRUSTS E.G. BY ANALYTICAL PYROLYSIS/EVAPORATION.
THE VARIABILITY IN CRUST FORMATION IS STUDIED AS A FUNCTION OF THE DEGREE AND TYPE OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION AND OF OTHER CLIMATIC/WEATHER VARIABLES.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology mycology ethnolichenology
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry organic acids
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- engineering and technology environmental engineering air pollution engineering
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.