Abstract
Mural paintings in ancient Egyptian tombs in West Thebes have been suffering from several deterioration factors and symptoms such as variations of temperatures and relative humidity, salts efflorescence and crypto-florescence, crackling and bio-deterioration effects, which assimilate in insects, algae, actinomycetes, etc. Other causing factors are bacteria and fungi, which accelerate mechanical weathering, chemical changes and aesthetic deterioration, like the penetration of mycelium below plaster layers, decomposition, disintegration, alterations and discoloration. These micro-organisms can excrete organic and inorganic acids, alkaline compounds, chelating, enzymes substances and pigments. Three fungi strains (Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus flavus) and two bacteria strains (Staphylococcus warnei and Micrococcus luteus) were isolated from the royal Theban tombs paintings (west Thebes, Luxor, Egypt). This work aimed to access the presence of microorganisms and their effect on mural paintings deterioration; it also studies their treatment methods, such as nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and Sesbania sesban and Ricinus communis plant extract (PE). The applied doses of NPs and PE did not cause any observable alterations or color changes to pigments and binding media (arabic gum) used in the paintings. TiO2 NPs 160 ppm and 100 mg of plant extracts were the efficient concentration level in eliminating microbial growth. The causes of the different efficacy of the treatments are observed, as well as the potential risks of recolonization by viable cells left behind after treatment. Key words: Bio-deterioration, Plant extracts, Wall painting, West Thebes tombs-Nanoparticles.
Highlights
Bio-deterioration can be defined as “any undesirable change in a material brought about by the vital activities of organisms” (Allsopp, 2011)
This work aimed to access the presence of microorganisms and their effect on mural paintings deterioration; it studies their treatment methods, such as nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and Sesbania sesban and Ricinus communis plant extract (PE)
Wall painting supports the growth of microorganism commonly involved in biodeterioration, contributing to the destruction of paint; their deterioration constitutes a loss affecting a significant part of the world's cultural heritage (Pepe et al, 2010)
Summary
Bio-deterioration can be defined as “any undesirable change in a material brought about by the vital activities of organisms” (Allsopp, 2011). Wall painting supports the growth of microorganism commonly involved in biodeterioration, contributing to the destruction of paint; their deterioration constitutes a loss affecting a significant part of the world's cultural heritage (Pepe et al, 2010). Biodegradation and bio-deterioration is a serious risk to cultural heritage, which needs the application of effective and fast methods in order to identify the microorganisms involved in this process and to assess their biodegradation and bio-deterioration ability (Pangallo et al, 2009). Their biological attack occurs at favourable temperature and relative humidity conditions for the development of microorganisms and spores present on the substratum. In this study we used two methods to inhibit the isolated microbial from the surface of wall painting: the first involves using titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a different level of concentration and the second method entails using two tradition plant extracts- Sesbania (Sesbania sesban) and Ricinus (Ricinus communis)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
