Evaluating effect of biomineralization compounds on the surface hardness and material loss of porous limestone

Abstract

Development of biomineralizing techniques requires new or borrowed methods, as well as instruments for the evaluation of the efficacy of the biomineralization. The aim of the research was to evaluate the appropriateness of two existing techniques for measuring the surface hardness and material loss of microbially treated porous limestone surfaces. Measurements were done with Duroscope, and with the peeling-tape method. The techniques were tested in a comparison trial, where different bio-based curing compounds were applied on porous Soskut limestone slabs. Two of the bio-based, and the conventional compounds show higher development in the surface rebound values (86.67 to 201.1%) and higher decrease in material-loss (−39.5 to 96.3%) compared to the control specimen. Through statistical analysis of statistical samples with a high number of results, the suitability of the techniques was evaluated.