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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2007, p. 5671-5675, Vol. 73, No. 17
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00394-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Advantages of Using Microbial Technology over Traditional Chemical Technology in Removal of Black Crusts from Stone Surfaces of Historical Monuments{triangledown}

Francesca Cappitelli,1* Lucia Toniolo,2 Antonio Sansonetti,3 Davide Gulotta,2 Giancarlo Ranalli,4 Elisabetta Zanardini,5 and Claudia Sorlini1

Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan,1 Dipartimento DCMIC Politecnico di Milano, Milan,2 CNR Istituto per la Conservazione e Valorizzazione dei Beni Culturali, Milan,3 Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Ambientali e Microbiologiche, Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso,4 Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Ambientali, Università dell'Insubria, Como, Italy5

Received 20 February 2007/ Accepted 25 June 2007

This study compares two cleaning methods, one involving an ammonium carbonate-EDTA mixture and the other involving the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris subsp. vulgaris ATCC 29579, for the removal of black crust (containing gypsum) on marble of the Milan Cathedral (Italy). In contrast to the chemical cleaning method, the biological procedure resulted in more homogeneous removal of the surface deposits and preserved the patina noble under the black crust. Whereas both of the treatments converted gypsum to calcite, allowing consolidation, the chemical treatment also formed undesirable sodium sulfate.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. Phone: 39-0250319121. Fax: 39-0250319238. E-mail: francesca.cappitelli{at}unimi.it

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 29 June 2007.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2007, p. 5671-5675, Vol. 73, No. 17
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00394-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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