Since the ban on use of asbestos due to its carcinogenic properties, removal cement, representing major asbestos-containing waste, has proven be a challenge in most industrial countries. Asbestos-containing products are mainly disposed landfills and have remained untreated. Bioremediation involving bacteria previously reported ability Pseudomonas aeruginosa release iron from flocking waste thro...

Fungi are known to contribute the development of drastic biodeterioration historical and valuable cultural heritage materials. Understandably, studies in this area increasingly reliant on modern molecular biology techniques due enormous benefits they offer. However, classical culture dependent methodologies still offer advantage allowing fungal species biodeteriorative profiles be studied great...

Over the last few years we have developed nondestructive methods for the elemental analysis of wood during biodeterioration by fungi. In this paper we review progress made in our laboratories on the multi-element analysis of wood using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and synchrotron-generated X-ray spectroscopy. The non-intrusive sample preparation and the nondestructive methods ha...

Wood as a natural organic material is susceptible to biodeterioration by insects, fungi, and bacteria. There is almost no wooden artefact or old wooden element, which is not infected and not damaged, at least partly, by wood-destroying organisms. As ancient wood and wooden artefacts are invaluable, their appropriate restoration is of particular importance. The first step in restoration is the d...

The process of biodeterioration of optical glass was studied after being induced by an auxiliary material (lubricant 4CKP) used in the production of optical instruments. It was determined that the lubricant can initiate growth of conidia of Aspergillus niger fungus. Acid spawn metabolites cause deterioration of the glass surface. Measurements of laser light beam transmittance through the glass ...