Biodegradation and Microbial Contamination of Limestone Surfaces: An Experimental Study from Batalha Monastery, Portugal

An experimental study was conducted to assess the nature and extent of biodeterioration limestone in Batalha Monastery Portugal. Stone fragments covered with microbial biofilms lichenous crusts were investigated using Optical Microscopy (OM), Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (LV-SEM + EDS), X-ray micro-Diffractometry (μ-XRD). Microbial samples collected from stone surface, cultured, analyzed NGS metagenomic DNA test classify bacterial communities associated formation biofilms. Particulate air pollutants on Pall GN-6 paper filters a cascade impactor characterized by SEM-EDS NGS. The results showed that lichens play major role promoting both physical chemical attack substrate via hyphae mechanical penetration along calcite inter-crystalline spaces, dissolution/leaching minerals, precipitation secondary minerals such as Ca-oxalates within porosity framework. analyses identified their relative abundances. Air quality monitoring suggest population colonizing monastery could at least partially be derived dry wet deposition airborne biological particles surfaces S, N, P-rich may have provided nutrients energy for bacteria communities, thus indirectly facilitating biofilm formation, growth crusts, effects.