Deterioration and bioremediation of fresco: A case-study

The bioremediation intervention was performed by utilisation both of whole bacterial cell of a selected strain, and purified enzymes in solution by swab, paper-disk and brush. Microorganisms for the bioremediation of frescoes can be obtained both from International Collection strains and from selection from different natural habitats on the basis of their specific metabolic activities. The treatment based on the bioremediation of artworks can be performed applying the selected microorganisms by spray, brush, or compress on the surface. The choice of the different ways of application depends on the type of alteration, the artwork material, the location of the areas that must be submitted to the treatment, and the metabolic activity of the selected microflora. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscope observations offer important information on the presence, the grade of adhesion between microflora and materials, the interaction among the microflora already present on the altered artwork and the dynamic of the microbial community.