Open AccessUrban structure degradation caused by growth of plants and microbial activity
Author(s) -
Edwin Munoz Mejia,
Jorge Iván Tobón,
Nelson Osório
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
materiales de construcción
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.539
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1988-3226
pISSN - 0465-2746
DOI - 10.3989/mc.2019.09517
Subject(s) - microorganism , fungus , incubation , inoculation , citric acid , dissolution , calcium , growth medium , in vitro , aspergillus niger , chemistry , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , biology , horticulture , bacteria , biochemistry , organic chemistry , genetics
The purpose of this study was to isolate microorganisms associated to surface-affected concrete structures and to measure the in vitro dissolution of concrete based on the release of elements such as calcium and silicon. Although many microorganisms were detected only a fungus was capable of significantly decreasing the culture medium pH and releasing both elements. The molecular characterization allowed to identify the microorganism as Aspergillus carbonaurius, a citric-acid producing fungus that dissolved concrete in the in vitro test. After seven days of incubation, the soluble calcium concentration in the uninoculated culture medium containing concrete was 172.3 mg/L, while in the inoculated medium it was 525.0 mg/L. The soluble silicon concentration in the uninoculated medium was 10.3 mg/L, while in the inoculated medium it was 50.1 mg/L. These findings showed that plants and microorganisms rendered a synergistic effect accelerating the biodeterioration of concrete.