Notice catalographique « A polysaccharide extracted from sphagnum moss as antifungal agent in archaeological conservation »
- Titre
- A polysaccharide extracted from sphagnum moss as antifungal agent in archaeological conservation
- Auteur ou éditeur
- Zaitseva, Nina
- Queen's University
- Lieu de publication
- Kingston, Ontario
- Maison d'édition
- Queen's University
- Date de publication
- 2009
- Collation
- xv, 267 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.
- Résumé
- On the basis of the well-worn preservative properties of Sphagnum moss, a potential opportunity to use moss polysaccharides (Sphagnan) in art conservation was tested. Polysaccharides were extracted from the moss (S. paluste spp.) in the amount of 4.1% of the Sphagnum plant dry weight. All lignocelluloses were removed from this extract as a result of the treatment of the moss cellulose with sodium chlorite. The extracted polysaccharide possessed a strong acidic reaction (pH 2.8) and was soluble in water and organic solvents. The extract was tested on laboratory bacterial cultures by the disk-diffusion method. The antibacterial effect was deomnstrated for E. coli and P. aeruginosa (both gram-negative) while Staphylococcus aurelus (gram-positive) was shown to be insensitive to Sphagnum polysaccharides. The antifungal effect of Sphagnum extract was tested by the disk-diffusion method on the spores of seventeen fungal species. These fungi were isolated from ethnographic museum objects and from archaeological objects excavated in the Arctic. Twelve of these isolates appeared susceptible to teh extract. The inhibiting effect of the extract was also tested by the modified broth-dilution method on the most typical isolate (Aspergillus spp.). In this experiement, in one ml of the nutritious broth, 40 ul of 3% solution of polysaccharides in water killed 10,000 fungal spores in 6 hours. The inhibiting effect was not connected to the acidity or osmotic effect of Sphagnum polysaccharides. As an example of the application of Sphagnum polysaccharides in art conservation, they were added as preservative agents to conservation waxes. After three weeks of exposure of microcrystalline wax to test fungi (Aspergillus spp.), 44% of wax was consumed. When, however, -0.1% (w/w) of Sphagnum extract was mixed with wax, the weight loss of wax was only 4% in the same time interval. On the basis of this study it was concluded that Sphagnum moss and Sphagnum products can be recommended for use in art conservation as antifungal agents.
- Notes
- Research project submitted to the Department of Art in conformity with the requirements for the Degree of Master of Art Conservation
- Langue
- English = Anglais
- Sujet
- Archaeology - Conservation and restoration
- Archaeology - Conservation and restoration - Research
- Archéologie - Conservation et restauration
- Archéologie - Conservation et restauration - Recherche
- Pays
- Canada
- Type de document
- Monograph = Monographie
- Localisation
- CC 135 Z358 2009
- Clé
- 17676
- Collection
- Catalogue