title: Advantages of using microbial technology over traditional chemical technology in removal of black crusts from stone surfaces of historical monuments.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. francesca.cappitelli@unimi.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cappitelli
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toniolo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sansonetti
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gulotta
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranalli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanardini
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sorlini
mesh_terms: D001108:Architecture; D001154:Art; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D003116:Color; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000382:microbiology; D016969:Desulfovibrio vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D007558:Italy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D004492:Edetic Acid; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; C040502:ammonium carbonate; D002133:Calcium Sulfate