BIODAM
BIODAM is a European multidisciplinary research and development project which aims to develop a novel biocide treatment to inhibit biofilm damage on cultural heritage. This project was funded by the European Community under the ‘Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development - EESD’ Programme (1998-2002). Contract No. EVK4-CT-2002-00098. Title: Inhibitors of biofilm damage on mineral materials (BIODAM).
Biofilms are thin and sticky layers of microbes. They create disfiguring stains, can penetrate into the surface and may lead to substantial material loss. Biodeterioration processes are usually a result of complex microbial interactions, since microbes build-up complex microbial ecosystems on substrates.
Existing chemical treatments to prevent biological damage to monuments often involve considerable amounts of potentially dangerous and even poisonous biocides. In the past decades many effective biocides have been banned because of their environmental and health hazards. BIODAM aims to eliminate biofilms on stone material by a polyphasic approach of biocides combined with cell permeabilizers, polysaccharide and pigment inhibitors and a photodynamic treatment.
Green algal growth on projecting sandstone features. Algae require high levels of moisture for active growth and commonly colonise frequently wetted stonework
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