An integrated approach for assessing the bioreceptivity of glazed tiles to phototrophic microorganisms

Abstract

A laboratory-based methodology was designed to assess the bioreceptivity of glazed tiles. The experimental set-up consisted of multiple steps: manufacturing of pristine and artificially aged glazed tiles, enrichment of phototrophic microorganisms, inoculation of phototrophs on glazed tiles, incubation under optimal conditions and quantification of biomass. In addition, tile intrinsic properties were assessed to determine which material properties contributed to tile bioreceptivity. Biofilm growth and biomass were appraised by digital image analysis, colorimetry and chlorophyll a analysis. SEM, micro-Raman and micro-particle induced X-ray emission analyses were carried out to investigate the biodeteriorating potential of phototrophic microorganisms on the glazed tiles. This practical and multidisciplinary approach showed that the accelerated colonization conditions allowed different types of tile bioreceptivity to be distinguished and to be related to precise characteristics of the material. Aged tiles showed higher bioreceptivity than pristine tiles due to their higher capillarity and permeability. Moreover, biophysical deterioration caused by chasmoendolithic growth was observed on colonized tile surfaces.

A multiproxy approach to evaluate biocidal treatments on biodeteriorated majolica glazed tiles

“…Some chemical damage on glazed surfaces has been reported, but little is still known about how microorganisms affect the corrosion of historic glazes (Watanabe et al, 2009;Baricza et al, 2012). The analysed tile panel from the Fishing House was manufactured according to the majolica production technique, and therefore it contains a significant amount of lead oxide (Table 5) (Coentro et al, 2012;Coutinho et al, 2016). Lead can be lixiviated from the glassy matrix in acid media (Wood and Blachere, 1978).…”

Biodeterioration of majolica glazed tiles by the fungus Devriesia imbrexigena

“…Thirty eight glazed tile models (approximately 2.5 Â 2.5 cm) were produced in the laboratory according to the manufacturing procedure of majolica ceramic tiles, using a faience ceramic paste and a silica lead-alkali glaze opacified with tin [24]. The produced tile models were divided into two sets of tile samples: (i) 19 newly produced tiles without ageing (hereinafter pristine) and (ii) 19 newly produced tiles with artificial ageing (hereinafter aged).…”

“…The produced tile models were divided into two sets of tile samples: (i) 19 newly produced tiles without ageing (hereinafter pristine) and (ii) 19 newly produced tiles with artificial ageing (hereinafter aged). The aged tiles were obtained by submitting the produced tiles to a thermal shock treatment and chemical corrosion as described in a previous work [24]. The average chemical composition of the glaze surface of the pristine and aged tiles before (Bf) the inoculation experiment is presented in Table 1 [24].…”

“…The aged tiles were obtained by submitting the produced tiles to a thermal shock treatment and chemical corrosion as described in a previous work [24]. The average chemical composition of the glaze surface of the pristine and aged tiles before (Bf) the inoculation experiment is presented in Table 1 [24].…”

“…The main intrinsic physical features of the pristine and aged tile models before the inoculation experiment, including water absorption by capillarity of the glazed surface, water vapor permeability and surface roughness (Ra) are summarized in Table 2 [24].…”