Biocleaning of nitrate alterations on wall paintings by Pseudomonas stutzeri

Microorganisms have been considered as causative agents of biodeterioration in multiple artworks. In this paper, we argue that microorganisms can be positively used for the cleaning of salt crusts otherwise difficult to remove by traditional restoration methods. We use Pseudomonas stutzeri to efficiently clean wall paintings. The bacteria allow for adequate and homogenous removal of insoluble salt efflorescence without damaging the painted layer. We also make use of a new application support consisting of agar. This new technology has been successfully applied in the biocleaning of eighteen-century murals located in a lunette of the Santos Juanes church in Valencia, Spain.This work has appreciated partial financial support from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PAID-05-09: Biotecnologia microbiana aplicada a la limpieza y restauracion de superficies de obras de arte), coordination by Rosa Maria Montes Estelles, and support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, with a Ph.D. scholarship for Pilar Bosch Roig (BES-2006-12110). The authors wish to thank to the priest of the Santos Juanes Church of Valencia; the 'Direccion General de Patrimonio'; Professor Pilar Roig Picazo; Gianluigi Colalucci, Donatella Zari and Carlo Giantomassi restorers of the Campo Santo di Pisa; Jose Juan Baldo and Irene Carpio, restorers of the Santos Juanes church of Valencia; to Mathieu Viau-Courville; the Instituto Universitario de Restauracion del Patrimonio; and Restaura BioTech S.L.; and particularly to Giancarlo Ranalli due to his invaluable help for the development of this manuscript.Bosch Roig, MDP.; Regidor Ros, JL.; Montes Estellés, RM. (2013). Biocleaning of nitrate alterations on wall paintings by Pseudomonas stutzeri. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 84:266-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.09.0092662748