In contrast to what was thought, the mixture of synthetics resins and natural marble powder tested to restore monuments or produce copies of pieces of singular importance (such as the fountain of the Lions of the Alhambra), is much more capable of being colonized by microalgae, although they respond better than traditional materials to physical and chemical deterioration agents, according to the results of the thesis “Biodeterioration by microalgae in marble fountains”, carried out by Yaiza Peraza Zurita, under the supervision of professors Fernando Bolívar Galiano and Pedro Sánchez Castillo, of the Department of Painting of the University of Granada.
The experiments carried out during a research work on fountain damage because of microalgae have revealed that the materials used (the mixture of synthetic resins and natural marble powder) are much more liable of being colonized by microalgae, although they show a better response than traditional materials to physical and chemical damage agents.
However, artificial materials are quite hydrophobic, and they should repel microorganisms. Yaiza Peraza´s research work is based on a surface study on the causes of this phenomenon on the damage mechanisms of microalgae stony substratums and factors which affect them. This research work opens new channels of interdisciplinary study in the field of restoration and maintenance of works of art.
According to the author of the thesis: “Fountains are an ideal environment for the development of photosynthetic microorganisms. Such microorganisms, microalgae, have effects that can be very damaging for stony substratum. Given these biodamage phenomenons, we have suggested using artificial materials to intervene in the restoration and maintenance of monumental fountains.”
Reference:
Yaiza Peraza Zurita. Dpt. Painting.
Faculty of Fine Arts
University of Granada.
Phone number: 958 243268 / 243816.
E-mail: yaiza@ugr.es
