Abstract Dimension stone is natural rock prepared for building use. It rapidly colonised by microorganisms that cause discoloration (mainly cyanobacteria, algae and fungi) structural damage. Microbial mobilisation of ions leads to new superficial or internal deposits, weakening the structure. Cyanobacteria fungi may penetrate, filling pores creating spaces. Lichens, fungus/phototroph associatio...

The high pollution levels in our cities are producing a significant increase of dust on buildings. An application of photoactive coatings on building materials can produce buildings with self-cleaning surfaces. In this study, we have developed a simple sol-gel route for producing Au-TiO₂/SiO₂ photocatalysts with application on buildings. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) improved the TiO₂ photoact...

Abstract The production of building stones shown an exponential growth in last decades as consequences the demand and developments extraction processing techniques. From several conditioning factors affecting this industry, geological constrains at quarry scale stands out one most important. Globalization increasing competition stone market require large raw material blocks to keep further cost...