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Natali V, Malfatti F, Cibic T. Ecological Effect of Differently Treated Wooden Materials on Microalgal Biofilm Formation in the Grado Lagoon (Northern Adriatic Sea). Microorganisms 2023; 11:2196. [PMID: 37764040 PMCID: PMC10537043 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the framework of the Interreg Italy-Slovenia programme, the project DuraSoft aimed at testing innovative technologies to improve the durability of traditional wooden structures in socio-ecologically sensitive environments. We focused on the impact of different wood treatments (i.e., copper-based coatings and thermal modification) on microbial biofilm formation in the Grado Lagoon. Wooden samples were placed in 2 areas with diverse hydrodynamic conditions and retrieved after 6, 20, and 40 days. Light, confocal and scanning electron microscopy were employed to assess the treatment effects on the microalgal community abundance and composition. Lower hydrodynamics accelerated the colonisation, leading to higher algal biofilm abundances, regardless of the treatment. The Cu-based agents induced modifications to the microalgal community, leading to lower densities, small-sized diatoms and frequent deformities (e.g., bent apices, frustule malformation) in the genera Cylindrotheca and Cocconeis. After 20 days, taxa forming 3D mucilaginous structures, such as Licmophora and Synedra, were present on chemically treated panels compared to natural ones. While in the short term, the treatments were effective as antifouling agents, in the long term, neither the copper-based coatings nor the thermal modification successfully slowed down the biofouling colonisation, likely due to the stimulating effect of nutrients and other substances released from these solutions. The need to develop more ecosystem friendly technologies to preserve wooden structures remains urgent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Natali
- Oceanography Section, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, 34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesca Malfatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Tamara Cibic
- Oceanography Section, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, 34151 Trieste, Italy
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Acosta AP, Gallio E, Cruz N, Aramburu AB, Lunkes N, Missio AL, Delucis RDA, Gatto DA. Alumina as an Antifungal Agent for Pinus elliottii Wood. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8121299. [PMID: 36547632 PMCID: PMC9785303 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This work deals with the durability of a Pinus elliotti wood impregnated with alumina (Al2O3) particles. The samples were impregnated at three different Al2O3 weight fractions (c.a. 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5%) and were then exposed to two wood-rot fungi, namely white-rot fungus (Trametes versicolor) and brown-rot fungus (Gloeophyllum trabeum). Thermal and chemical characteristics were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. The wood which incorporated 0.3 wt% of Al2O3 presented a weight loss 91.5% smaller than the untreated wood after being exposed to the white-rot fungus. On the other hand, the highest effectiveness against the brown-rot fungus was reached by the wood treated with 5 wt% of Al2O3, which presented a mass loss 91.6% smaller than that of the untreated pine wood. The Al2O3-treated woods presented higher antifungal resistances than the untreated ones in a way that: the higher the Al2O3 content, the higher the thermal stability. In general, the impregnation of the Al2O3 particles seems to be a promising treatment for wood protection against both studied wood-rot fungi. Additionally, both FT-IR and TG results were valuable tools to ascertain chemical changes ascribed to fungal decay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey P. Acosta
- Postgraduate Program in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90650-001, RS, Brazil
| | - Ezequiel Gallio
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Nidria Cruz
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Arthur B. Aramburu
- Postgraduate Program in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90650-001, RS, Brazil
| | - Nayara Lunkes
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - André L. Missio
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-55-9944-4478
| | - Rafael de A. Delucis
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Darci A. Gatto
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
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Mizzi J, Gaggìa F, Bozzi Cionci N, Di Gioia D, Attard E. Selection of Acetic Acid Bacterial Strains and Vinegar Production From Local Maltese Food Sources. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:897825. [PMID: 35928157 PMCID: PMC9343879 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.897825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the isolation, identification, and fermentation performance of autochthonous acetic acid bacteria (AAB) from local niche habitats on the Island of Gozo (Malta) and their further use for vinegar production, employing local raw materials. The bacteria were isolated from grapevine berries and vinegar produced in the cottage industry. Following phenotype and genotype identification, the AAB were ascribed to the genera Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, and Komagataeibacter. A mixture of selected AAB was tested as an inoculum for vinegar production in bench fermenters, under different conditions and substrates, namely, grapes, honey, figs, onions, prickly pear, and tomatoes. The bench fermenters were operated under semi-continuous fermentation where working volumes were maintained by discharging and subsequent recharging accordingly to maintain the acidity in fermenters by adding 30-50 g/l of acetic acid for optimal Acetobacteraceae performance. Finally, the vinegar products obtained from the different substrates were evaluated for their quality, including organoleptic properties, which showed the superior quality of wood-treated vinegar samples with respect to neat vinegar samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Mizzi
- Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Francesca Gaggìa
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicole Bozzi Cionci
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Diana Di Gioia
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Everaldo Attard
- Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
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Odalanowska M, Woźniak M, Ratajczak I, Zielińska D, Cofta G, Borysiak S. Propolis and Organosilanes as Innovative Hybrid Modifiers in Wood-Based Polymer Composites. Materials (Basel) 2021; 14:464. [PMID: 33478032 DOI: 10.3390/ma14020464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The article presents characteristics of wood/polypropylene composites, where the wood was treated with propolis extract (EEP) and innovative propolis-silane formulations. Special interest in propolis for wood impregnation is due to its antimicrobial properties. One propolis-silane formulation (EEP-TEOS/VTMOS) consisted of EEP, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMOS), while the other (EEP-TEOS/OTEOS) contained EEP, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and octyltriethoxysilane (OTEOS). The treated wood fillers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the composites were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and optical microscopy. The wood treated with EEP and propolis-silane formulations showed resistance against moulds, including Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium globosum, and Trichoderma viride. The chemical analyses confirmed presence of silanes and constituents of propolis in wood structure. In addition, treatment of wood with the propolis-silane formulations produced significant changes in nucleating abilities of wood in the polypropylene matrix, which was confirmed by an increase in crystallization temperature and crystal conversion, as well as a decrease in half-time of crystallization parameters compared to the untreated polymer matrix. In all the composites, the formation of a transcrystalline layer was observed, with the greatest rate recorded for the composite with the filler treated with EEP-TEOS/OTEOS. Moreover, impregnation of wood with propolis-silane formulations resulted in a considerable improvement of strength properties in the produced composites. A dependence was found between changes in the polymorphic structures of the polypropylene matrix and strength properties of composite materials. It needs to be stressed that to date literature sources have not reported on treatment of wood fillers using bifunctional modifiers providing a simultaneous effect of compatibility in the polymer-filler system or any protective effect against fungi.
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Yanitch A, Kadri H, Frenette-Dussault C, Joly S, Pitre FE, Labrecque M. A four-year phytoremediation trial to decontaminate soil polluted by wood preservatives: phytoextraction of arsenic, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans. Int J Phytoremediation 2020; 22:1505-1514. [PMID: 32643383 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2020.1785387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Widely used as wood preservatives for the last century, Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and chromated copper arsenate (CCA) have been shown to leach from treated surfaces and contaminate soil of wood storage sites. We performed a four-year field phytoremediation trial in southern Quebec (Canada) on a site contaminated with PCP and CCA with the following objectives: (1) assess the potential of willow, fescue, alfalfa and Indian mustard to tolerate and translocate CCA and PCP residues in their aerial tissues, (2) investigate the possibility of phytoextraction of dioxins and furans, and (3) test the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on phytoremediation performance. We showed that while nitrogen fertilization increased the chlorophyll content of plants, it did not result in a significantly greater plant biomass. We also showed that plants grown in the presence of PCP/CCA residues were able to translocate and concentrate trace elements in their aerial tissues, but also dioxins and furans (PCDD/F). This suggests that plants grown on sites polluted by PCP might contain dioxins and furans and should be treated as contaminated by these toxic chemicals. Finally, the reduction of soil contaminants at the end of the trial suggests that phytoremediation is a promising approach for decontaminating such sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymeric Yanitch
- Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Hafssa Kadri
- Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Simon Joly
- Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Montreal Botanical Garden, Montréal, Canada
| | - Frederic E Pitre
- Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Montreal Botanical Garden, Montréal, Canada
| | - Michel Labrecque
- Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Montreal Botanical Garden, Montréal, Canada
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Jiang J, Chen Y, Cao J, Mei C. Improved Hydrophobicity and Dimensional Stability of Wood Treated with Paraffin/Acrylate Compound Emulsion through Response Surface Methodology Optimization. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:polym12010086. [PMID: 31947817 PMCID: PMC7023641 DOI: 10.3390/polym12010086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wood treatment was conducted by paraffin/acrylate compound emulsion. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for modeling and to determine the relationship between hydrophobicity and influencing factors. The results showed that the paraffin emulsion concentration and acrylate emulsion percentage had significant influences on water absorption (WA) and mass percentage gain (MG). The WA decreased obviously with increasing acrylate emulsion percentage. The correlation models for WA and MG showed a good prediction due to the straight-line distribution in the normal probability plot of residuals. The optimal conditions (5.57% paraffin emulsion concentration, 20% acrylate emulsion percentage, and 10 min treatment time) provided by RSM were acceptable for predicting the MG and WA. Compared to untreated (66°) and paraffin emulsion treated wood (94°), the wood treated by compound emulsion showed the highest water contact angle (133°) and better dimensional stability. This could be ascribed to a synergistic effect (bulking effect and filling effect) provided by paraffin and acrylate, which could form a completely hydrophobic film in wood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jiang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
- MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Yupeng Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Jinzhen Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Changtong Mei
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (C.M.)
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Fiocco G, Rovetta T, Gulmini M, Piccirillo A, Licchelli M, Malagodi M. Spectroscopic Analysis to Characterize Finishing Treatments of Ancient Bowed String Instruments. Appl Spectrosc 2017; 71:2477-2487. [PMID: 28617042 DOI: 10.1177/0003702817715622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Historical bowed string instruments exhibit acoustic features and aesthetic appeal that are still considered inimitable. These characteristics seem to be in large part determined by the materials used in the ground and varnishing treatments after the assembly of the instrument. These finishing processes were kept secret by the violinmakers and the traditional methods were handed down orally from master craftsmen to apprentices. Today, the methods of the past can represent a secret to be revealed through scientific investigations. The "Cremonese" methods used in the 17th and 18th centuries were lost as the last Great Masters from the Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari families passed away. In this study, we had the chance of combining noninvasive and microinvasive techniques on six fragments of historical musical instruments. The fragments were detached from different instruments during extraordinary maintenance and restoration treatments, which involved the substitution of severely damaged structural parts like top plates, back plates, or ribs. Therefore, the fragments can offer to the scientists a valuable overview on the materials and techniques used by the violinmakers. The results obtained by portable X-ray fluorescence, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared microscopy allowed us to: (1) determine the stratigraphy of six instruments; (2) obtain new information about the materials involved in the finishing processes employed in Cremona; and (3) elucidate the technological relationship among the procedures adopted in the violin making workshops during the considered period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Fiocco
- 1 CISRiC-Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostic, University of Pavia, Cremona, Italy
| | - Tommaso Rovetta
- 1 CISRiC-Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostic, University of Pavia, Cremona, Italy
| | - Monica Gulmini
- 2 Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Anna Piccirillo
- 3 Conservation and Restoration Center "La Venaria Reale," Venaria Reale (TO), Italy
| | - Maurizio Licchelli
- 1 CISRiC-Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostic, University of Pavia, Cremona, Italy
- 4 Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Malagodi
- 1 CISRiC-Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostic, University of Pavia, Cremona, Italy
- 5 Department of Musicology and Cultural Heritage, University of Pavia, Cremona, Italy
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Tai HC, Li GC, Huang SJ, Jhu CR, Chung JH, Wang BY, Hsu CS, Brandmair B, Chung DT, Chen HM, Chan JC. Chemical distinctions between Stradivari's maple and modern tonewood. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:27-32. [PMID: 27994135 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1611253114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Violins made by Antonio Stradivari are renowned for having been the preferred instruments of many leading violinists for over two centuries. There have been long-standing questions about whether wood used by Stradivari possessed unique properties compared with modern tonewood for violin making. Analyses of maple samples removed from four Stradivari and a Guarneri instrument revealed highly distinct organic and inorganic compositions compared with modern maples. By solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy, we observed that about one-third of hemicellulose had decomposed after three centuries, accompanied by signs of lignin oxidation. No apparent changes in cellulose were detected by NMR and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. By thermogravimetric analysis, historical maples exhibited reduced equilibrium moisture content. In differential scanning calorimetry measurements, only maples from Stradivari violins, but not his cellos, exhibited unusual thermooxidation patterns distinct from natural wood. Elemental analyses by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry suggested that Stradivari's maples were treated with complex mineral preservatives containing Al, Ca, Cu, Na, K, and Zn. This type of chemical seasoning was an unusual practice, unknown to later generations of violin makers. In their current state, maples in Stradivari violins have very different chemical properties compared with their modern counterparts, likely due to the combined effects of aging, chemical treatments, and vibrations. These findings may inspire further chemical experimentation with tonewood processing for instrument making in the 21st century.
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