WOODEN COFFIN BIODETERIORATION ASSESSMENT AND ITS RESTORATION WITH DIFFERENT ANTIMICROBIAL SUBSTANCES

This study aims to isolate and define the microbial infection of a wooden coffin covered with a layer of mud and colored materials and to identify the methods of treating these issues. The polychrome wooden coffin was covered with a ground mud layer, a gesso layer, and a painted layer. Cellulose agar was utilized for the cultivation of fungi, and nutrient agar was utilized for the cultivation of bacteria. The fungi were Fusarium avenaceum, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium poae, As-pergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum, and Penicillium Citrinum, while the bacteria were Bacillus jeotgali and G+ve Bacillus Sp. Mixtures of Nano-chitosan with Ag NP, ZnO NP, p-chloro-m-cresol (PCMC), A plant extract of Ceratophyllum Demersum (CD) with 1, 2, and 3% were selected for the treatment of the microbial infection and the evaluation of the best materials for inhibit-ing microbial growths. Nano-chitosan + ZnO NP, Ag Np (1%) showed the highest fungal inhibi-tion (30mm) against Aspergillus niger. It was observed that Nano-chitosan+PCMC 1% gave the best inhibition for Aspergillus flavus (25mm), Penicillium Citrinum (30mm), and Cladosporium herbarum (43mm). Nano-chitosan+Ag Np (1%) showed the highest fungal inhibition (30mm) against Fusarium avenaceum. The effect equaled 1% for Nano-chitosan+(CD), Ag Np, Nano-chitosan (40mm) against Fusarium poae, while Nano-chitosan+PCMC (1%) showed the highest fungal inhibition (40mm) against Bacillus jeotgali and G+ve Bacillus sp, and Nano-chitosan gave the same effect for G+ve Bacillus sp (40mm)