Consolidation of quarry calcarenite by calcium carbonate precipitation induced by bacteria activated among the microbiota inhabiting the stone

A new method is described to protect and to increase the consolidation of new pieces of stone that will replace damaged ones in restoration procedures, in order to make the new piece more resistant to deterioration. Culture media were applied to quarry porous limestone whose natural microbial community was not eliminated. The culture media activated bacteria belonging to the microbial community that are able to induce the precipitation of calcium carbonate. The newly produced calcium carbonate was compatible with the substrate and consolidated the stone with no pore plugging. This is the first study to propose the use of a bacterial non-inoculated culture medium in the consolidation of newly quarried stone. Application of the culture media specified in this study is proposed as a procedure for effective protection of ornamental limestone. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.