Case Study – Basement of the National Museum of Cotroceni

The work presents a series of aspects related to the degree of biodeterioration of some heritage objects made of inorganic substrates (brick), and the identification of fungi and bacteria with a damaging action on historical materials. Inorganic substrates represented by dust particles from walls and bricks were studied. Fired clay bricks can be severely affected by various macroscopic forms of degradation, as a consequence of chemical, physical-mechanical and biological degradation processes as a result of exposure to aggressive environmental agents. The samples studied (they were collected in compliance with conservation-restoration norms) are part of the “Small Cellar” of the Cotroceni Palace, one of the few spaces where the walls of the old foundation built by Șerban Cantacuzino between 1679-1681, are still preserved. By monitoring the microclimate parameters of the “small cellar” space, it was concluded that there is a greater variation of the relative humidity from 40% to 63%, but also of the temperature from 16℃ to 22℃, fluctuations due to the change of seasons. The samples taken, developed on the culture medium and isolated were analyzed from the point of view of microbiota, and the identified fungi mainly belong to the genera Mucor sp., Alternaria sp., Rhizopus sp., Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp. Three different treatments, Clic, Q and Top Crete, were tested and applied on the wall by brushing. After 7 days, samples were collected and tested regarding microbial loading and the results are a proof of the treatment efficiency. The samples were further monitored from a microbiological point of view, but also from the point of view of the appearance given to the bricks after treatment (color change, brick texture, organoleptic properties, etc.).