Antifungal/Biocide additive for surface cleaning wall paintings

Alice Tate-Harte <alice.tate-harte [at] english-heritage__org__uk>
writes

>I would like to find a suitable anti-mould or biocide agent to add
>to a surface cleaning mixture (either water or water with a
>chelating agent such as triammonium citrate).
>
>...
>I'm also concerned about the residue any similar product might
>leave. ...

The point and activation of antifungals is to make the surface
non-receptive, meaning they remain. Antifungals do this by remaining
on the surface, often using metal ions or pH as the growth
deterrent. Once you have removed any residue and are back to a clean
wall it will be as receptive as ever.

Have you considered using 15 minute bursts of UV light to kill the
mould and spores and the possibility of changing the moisture source
to prevent future attacks? There has been some work on wall
paintings in Vietnam and other Asian Buddhist caves which might also
hold a key.

Victoria Gill
Freelance
Conservator


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 24:51
                  Distributed: Thursday, May 12, 2011
                       Message Id: cdl-24-51-004
                                  ***