Growth control of algae and cyanobacteria on historical monuments by a mobile uv unit (Muvu)

Judith M. Van Der Molen, Jacob Garty, Barend W. Aardema, Wolfgang E. Krumbein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Algal and cyanobacterial growth occurring on the plaster-covered interior walls of the church of St Stephanus at Pilsum (northern Germany) has been studied. A Mobile Ultra Violet Unit (MUVU) has been successfully applied to the church walls in order to control growth of photosynthetic organisms. The killing effect of the UV-light on the flora has been demonstrated by the following methods: (1) infrared photography, (2) quantitative chlorophyll determinations, (3) transmitted light microscopy, (4) scanning electron microscopy and (5) plate counts. It was demonstrated that the MUVU method is efficient and cheap. The construction and operation of the MUVU is easy. Assessment of the efficiency of the process can be carried out without complicated chemical or biological analyses, by using IR-photography.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-77
Number of pages7
JournalStudies in Conservation
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1980
Externally publishedYes

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