Antimicrobial Efficiency of Selected Wastes and By- Products for Building Applications Volume 3 - Issue 3

Július Strigáč¹*, Jozef Mikušinec¹ and Nadežda Števulová²

• ¹Production and Technical Department, Povazska cement plant Ladce, Slovakia
• ¹Department of Material Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Slovakia

Received: February 18, 2019;   Published: April 24, 2019

Corresponding author: Július Strigáč, Production and Technical Department, Považská cementáreň a. s. Ladce (Povazska cement plant Ladce), Slovakia

DOI: 10.32474/TCEIA.2018.03.000162

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Abstract

Article deals firstly with studying antimicrobial efficiency of ground metallurgical slags: granulated blast-furnace slag, aircooled blast-furnace slag, demetallized steel slag, calcareous ladle slag and copper slag. The efficiency was tested on microbial representatives: G+ and G- bacteria; yeasts; fungi. The efficiency was determined by dilution methods in agar growth media with resulting slag concentrations of 10, 20, 40 and 60%. The results gained by testing the antimicrobial efficiency of individual slag samples on selected representatives of biodeteriogenic microflora can be summarized as follows: the tested slag samples are characterized by selective toxicity on the model bacteria, yeasts, and microscopic filamentous fungi. Calcareous ladle slag possesses the highest antimicrobial efficiency, while granulated blast-furnace slag and demetallized steel slag have medium activity. Air cooled blast-furnace slag has still lower activity and copper slag has the lowest activity. Secondly, antifungal effects of fluidized bed combustion fly and bottom ash, pulverized fly ash, carbide lime slurry, commercial lime and granulated blast-furnace slag as well as cements made from it were tested on fungi according to technical standard ČSN 72 4310. The study confirms fungistatic properties of all samples as well as Blastfurnace cements containing the granulated blast-furnace slag additions from 65wt.% to 95wt.%, with exception of pulverized fly ash and Blastfurnace cements containing the granulated blast-furnace slag additions lower than 65wt.%, which have no fungistatic properties.

Keywords: Metallurgical slags; Antimicrobial efficiency; Mould-proof properties; Fungistatic properties; Fluidized bed combustion fly and bottom ash; Pulverized coal combustion fly ash; Carbide lime slurry; Fungistatic cements

Introduction

Every year increasing enormous amounts of wastes and industrial by-products are generated worldwide, which result in environmental problems. Their high cost disposal or low effective recovery and utilization lead to depositing in a landfill site. However, wastes and by-products can represent an important source of secondary raw materials in order to replace natural resources. The representatives of such materials can be metallurgical slags, coal combustion ashes, carbide lime slurries etc. Typical for these materials can be mentioned ground metallurgical slags: granulated blast-furnace slag with finenesses 340 (1Sa) and 520m².kg^-1 (1Sb), air-cooled blast-furnace slag (2S), demetallized steel slag (3S), calcareous ladle slag (4S) and copper slag (5S) as well as fluidized bed combustion fly (FBCFA) and bottom ash (FBCBA), pulverized fly ash (PCCFA), carbide lime slurry (CLS). Reuse of these materials for new applications is of great international interest. The antimicrobial properties, focusing on antifungal effects of the wastes and by-products have been previously studied [1-4]. Results of these investigations have shown that some of these materials possess significant antimicrobial efficiency and thereunto fungistatic properties and so can be readily used for building materials and products providing them increasing resistance against biodeterioration.

Biocorrosion, subsequently connected with biodeterioration of concretes, mortars, and building materials and products is a serious problem wherever the conditions suitable for particular microorganisms occur. Biodeterioration reduces the utility efficiency of concretes, as well as their service life. Biocorrosion, as a specific type of chemical corrosion, is caused by various biogenic organic acids and mineral acids (sulphuric acid, H₂SO₄, and nitric acid, HNO₃), as well as by corrosive hydrogen sulphide H₂S, and ammonia, NH₃, which result from the metabolic activity of microorganisms [5-8]. These aggressive metabolites react mainly with calcareous components of concrete and mortar stone, with development of their non-binding calcareous salts. Some of them cause sulphate degradation, resulting in extreme expansion in the hardened concrete and leading to the complete destruction of concrete structural elements.

The article aims to review the previously measured results of antimicrobial efficiency of selected wastes and industrial byproducts for increasing their utilization in building materials and products, as well as for enlarging civil engineering applications with respect to higher biodeterioration resistance and sustainable development.

Materials and Methods

Materials

The tested wastes and industrial by-products have been as follows: granulated blast-furnace slag with finenesses 340 (1Sa) and 520m².kg^-1 (1Sb), air cooled blast-furnace slag (2S), demetallized steel slag (3S), calcareous ladle slag (4S), copper slag (5S) [1], fluidized bed combustion fly ash (FBCFA) and bottom ash (FBCBA), pulverized coal combustion fly ash (PCCFA) [2], carbide lime slurry (CLS), industrially manufactured commercial lime (IMCL) [3] as well as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and the cements made from it (mixtures of GGBS, ground Portland cement clinker (PCC) and gypsum (Gyps)) [4], respectively. The samples were ground to the finenesses of 400m².kg^-1.

The chemical composition of samples was analysed by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) according to EN 196-2 using a SPECTRO X-LAB 2000 apparatus. The semi-quantitative chemical composition of the samples is introduced in Table 1.

The mineralogical composition of the samples was determined by XRD technique using BRUKER AXS D8 Advance device. The identified mineralogical composition of the samples is as follows: S1a and S1b – melilite (solid solution of C₂AS–C₂MS₂); S2 – melilite C₂AS–C₂MS₂, brownmillerite C₄AF, quartz SiO₂; S3 – wüstite FeO, brownmillerite C₄AF, free lime CaO, portlandite Ca(OH)₂, larnite β-C₂S, quartz SiO₂; S4 – free lime CaO, larnite β-C₂S, shanonite γ-C₂S, gehlenite C₂AS, C₃A, gypsum CaSO₄.2H₂O, quartz SiO₂ and S5 – fayalite 2FeO.SiO₂, anortite CAS₂, pyroxene type CaAlAlSiO₆; FBCFA – quartz SiO₂, anhydrite CaSO₂, free lime CaO, anorthite CAS₂, hematite Fe₂O3, magnetite Fe₃O₄, glass phase; FBCBA – quartz SiO₂, anhydrite CaSO₄, free lime CaO, calcite CaCO₃, hematite Fe₂O₃, magnetite Fe₃O₄, glass phase; PCCFA – quartz SiO₂, mullite A₃S₂, hematite Fe₂O₃, magnetite Fe₃O₄, glass phase; CLS – calcite CaCO₃ (22.40wt.%), portlandite Ca(OH)₂ (70.10wt.%), hydrocalumite (structurally like as Friedel’s salt 3CaO.Al₂O₃.CaCl₂.10H₂O) Ca4Al₂(OH)₁₂(Cl,OH)₂.4H₂O (5.13wt.%), graphite C (2.37wt.%); IMCL – portlandite Ca(OH)₂, calcite CaCO₃, quartz SiO₂, periclase MgO; GGBS – fully glassy, sometime containing a small amount of melilite C₂AS–C₂MS₂ or merwinite C3MS₂; PCC – C3S (70.5wt.%), C2S (10.2wt.%), C₃A (5.7wt.%), C4AF (10.9wt.%) and free lime CaO (1.0 wt.%); Gyps – gypsum CaSO₄.2H₂O (min. 95wt.%), limestone CaCO3 (max. 2.5wt.%), respectively.

The determination of free calcium oxide CaO_free content in the metallurgical slags was performed using the hot ethylene glycol titration method [2]. The CaO_free content in the slags is given in Table 2. The ground slags were leached in distilled water at 20 °C for 24h. The pH was determined in the slag water leachates by an Agilent Technologies 3200P pH Meter with an electrode reference system. The measured pH values of the water leachates are also shown in Table 2.

Methods

Determination of antimicrobial efficiency of metallurgical slags under in vitro conditions

The antimicrobial activity of the metallurgical slags S1 – S5 was tested on selected representatives of biodeteriogenic microflora, such as bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. Microbial strains (bacteria and filamentous fungi) used in this work were either from the Czech Collection of Microorganisms, (CCM) T. G. Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic or yeasts from the Collection of Microorganism of the Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovak Republic [1].

The tests were performed in the laboratory incubator at temperatures of 30 °C for bacteria, 28 °C for yeasts and 25 °C for filamentous fungi at a relative humidity of 95% for four days. Antimicrobial activity was determined by dilution methods in standard agar growth media, so that the resulting concentration of tested slags in growth media was 10, 20, 40, and 60% [1]. The pH of the growth media with the addition of the slags was strongly alkaline (pH 11); thus, half the samples of each slag was tested at this pH, and the second half was tested at a modified pH (bacteria pH 7.2, yeasts, and filamentous fungi pH 6.6). The first half of the samples with the original pH represented real conditions for growth of microorganisms in concrete; the second half with a modified pH represented optimal conditions for growth of the microorganisms in vitro [1]. The growth intensity of bacteria and yeasts was compared with the growth of bacteria and yeasts in the control growth media without slags. The growth of filamentous fungi in the presence of slags was monitored by the measurement of average diameter of growing colony at regular time intervals and was compared with the filamentous fungi growth in the control growth media without slags [1].

Method of testing the mould-proof properties of building products and materials

The antifungal effect of the materials was tested using the procedure given in the technical standard ČSN 72 4310 [9]. The mould-proof properties expressed as the intensity of fungi growth on building products and materials are determined by both artificial and natural contamination, with exposure to the selected testing moulds under the prescribed conditions presented in [9]. The scale of evaluation of the mould-proof properties of the tested materials according to [9] is expressed by a value from 0 to 5, which is the degree of fungal growth (DFG). The value 0 means that no growth of fungi occurs and the tested materials possess fungistatic properties; in some cases, fungicide properties also occur after the formation of an inhibiting zone in the broth medium around the sample. The building products and materials are not mould-proof, when the intensity of mould growth on the sample surface itself is from 1 to 5 of DFG.

The testing has been realized in the accredited microbiological laboratory of Testing Institute for Textiles in Brno, Czech Republic. A mixture of fungi - cultures delivered from the Czech collection of microorganisms, has been used for the testing. The test conditions are as follows: sample size Ø 5.5cm; temperature in the incubator 28±1 °C; rel. humidity in the incubator 95%; incubation period 3 months; standard broth media. The tested samples have been exposed to the contamination by the chosen microorganisms in the broth medium according to exactly defined conditions given in [9] during 3 months, after which their mould-proof properties have been evaluated.

Results

Antimicrobial efficiency of individual slag samples

Firstly, the antimicrobial activity of individual slag samples on selected representatives of biodeteriogenic microflora was determined; subsequently the antimicrobial efficiency of individual slags was mutually compared. The tests were also carried out at A–alkaline pH of growth media and N–neutral pH of growth media, as well [1].

Based on the obtained results of determining the antibacterial efficiency of individual slag samples on the selected model Grampositive bacteria (G+) and Gram-negative bacteria (G−), it can be stated that the inhibitory effect of the slag samples differs. Slag S4, which intensely inhibited growth of G+ and also G− bacteria, had the highest antibacterial activity, which was also proven at the lowest concentration of slag S4: 10% in growth media. The bacteria, except M. luteus, did not grow at higher concentrations of slag S4 in growth media, whereas the pH values of the growth media (alkaline, neutral) did not affect the inhibition intensity of bacterial growth.

The growth of G+ bacteria S. aureus and B. subtilis was inhibited in the presence of slag S3 in growth media as early as at a concentration of 10%, and at higher concentrations growth was completely inhibited. However, slag S3 did not affect the growth of G− bacteria, except for E. coli, at the highest concentration used (60%). Inhibition of bacterial growth in the presence of slag S2 was more intensive in the alkaline pH of growth media. The complete inhibition of the growth of G+ bacteria S. aureus and B. subtilis was detected with slag S2 at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60% in growth media and, inhibition of growth of G− bacteria E. coli, S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa was detected at a slag S2 concentration of 60% in growth media. Slag S1a caused total inhibition of B. subtilis growth at concentrations of 40 and 60% in growth media at both a neutral and alkaline pH. A 40 and 60% concentration of slag S1b in growth media at neutral as well as alkaline pH led to total inhibition of the growth of B. subtilis. No growth of E. coli was observed at a slag S1b concentration of 60% in growth media at neutral pH. Slag S5 did not significantly affect the growth of the model bacteria. Slags S1a, S1b, S2 and S5 caused a change in S. marcescens growth at alkaline pH. Based on the obtained results, it can be stated that the antibacterial efficiency of the individual slag samples decreased in the order: S4 > S3 > S2 > S1a = S1b > S5 [1].

From the results of determining the anti-yeast efficiency of the individual slag samples on the selected model yeasts, it can be stated, that Slag S4 possessed the highest anti-yeast activity. Growth of all model yeasts was completely inhibited at concentration as low as 10% of slag S4, at both alkaline and neutral pH of the growth media. Slags S1a, S1b, and S3 caused total inhibition of the growth of all model yeasts from a concentration of 20% in growth media at alkaline and neutral pH, as well. The growth of the model yeasts was intensively reduced in the presence of slag S2 at concentrations of 40 and 60% in growth media. Slag S5 partially inhibited the growth of the model yeasts; however, total inhibition of the growth of yeasts was not observed even at the highest concentration of 60% in growth media. Based on the measured results, the antiyeast efficiency of the individual slag samples decreased in the order: S4 > S1a = S1b = S3 > S2 > S5 [1].

From the results of determining the antifungal efficiency of the individual slag samples on the selected model filamentous fungi, it is evident that the model filamentous fungi used were sensitive to the presence of slag samples in various ways. As is apparent from the results of inhibition, all slags inhibited the growth of filamentous fungi by 40–100% at a concentration of 60% slag. The most sensitive to the presence of all slags were A. niger and T. viride. Their growth was completely inhibited when 20–60% concentrations of all slag samples at neutral and alkaline pH were used. The growth of these two fungi species was stopped, thus causing a fungistatic effect. A 60% concentration of slag S4 led to the inhibition of T. viride growth with fungicide effect (killed fungal spores). Slag S4 had the most inhibiting activity for all fungi. It completely inhibited growth of almost all model filamentous fungi in concentrations from 20– 60% at alkaline pH, with mostly a fungistatic effect. Only T. viride growth was inhibited totally with a fungicide effect at alkaline pH of growth media at a slag S4 concentration of 60%. At neutral pH of growth media, the growth of model filamentous fungi was inhibited completely at concentrations from 40–60% of slag S4 and at slag S4 concentration of 60% with fungicide effect on A. alternata, A. niger, T. viride and Ch. globosum.

A lower inhibiting effect on filamentous fungi growth was observed in the case of slags S1a, S1b and S3, but they inhibited the growth of all tested filamentous fungi from 40–100% at a concentration of 40%. The lowest impact on the growth of model filamentous fungi was observed in the presence of slags S2 and S5 in growth media, which affected only the growth of the most sensitive fungi, A. niger and T. viride. The most resistant was A. alternata. Its growth was most intensely inhibited by slag S4, with total inhibition observed at 40–60% of slag, with mostly a fungistatic effect.

Regarding the fact that model filamentous fungi were selectively sensitive to the presence of the tested slags, it is possible to determine only an approximate order of inhibition efficiency of the slags to filamentous micromycetes: S4 > S3 = S1a = S1b > S5 > S2. The pH values of the growth media did not significantly influence the intensity of inhibition of the model microorganisms’ growth [1].

The results gained by testing the antimicrobial efficiency of individual slag samples on selected representatives of biodeteriogenic microflora can be summarized as follows: the tested slag samples are characterized by selective toxicity on the model bacteria, yeasts, and microscopic filamentous fungi; calcareous ladle slag (S4) possesses the highest antimicrobial efficiency; slag S4 best inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and microscopic filamentous fungi of all tested slags; total growth inhibition of Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger was detected in the presence of all tested slags at a concentration of 10% in growth media, except for copper slag (S5); the calcareous ladle slag (S4) and granulated blast-furnace slag (S1a) possessed fungicidal (lethal) effect on spores of some filamentous fungi at a concentration of 60% in growth media; copper slag (S5) is characterized by the lowest antibacterial and anti-yeast efficiency, despite having the highest Cu, Cr, As, Zn, Pb, and Hg contents from all tested slags; air cooled blast-furnace slag (S2) and copper slag (S5) have the lowest antifungal efficiency [1]. Slag S4 is characterized as having the highest CaO content of 58.97 wt.% and the highest CaO_free content (3.30wt.%) as well as the highest pH (12.93), in comparison with the other tested slags (Table 2). Calcareous ladle slag (S4) has the highest antimicrobial efficiency, while granulated blast-furnace slag (S1a, S1b) and demetallized steel slag (S3) have medium activity. Air cooled blast-furnace slag (S2) has still lower activity and copper slag (S5) has the lowest activity.

The mould-proof properties of the selected wastes and by-products

After the 3-month incubation period, the mould-proof properties of tested samples were evaluated by the degree of fungi growth (DFG) according to technical standard [9] and the results are summarized in Tables 3 & 4. The samples possess different mould-proof properties, most of them is characterized in 0 value of the degree of fungal growth (DFG) i.e. there was no growth of fungi on sample surface.

The FBCFA, FBCBA and PCCFA possess different mould-proof properties, depending on the amount of free lime CaO [2]. The results imply that the higher the amount of free lime CaO in the ash, the more antimicrobially active the particular ash becomes. The mould-proof properties of the FBCFA and FBCBA reach 0 degree of fungi growth [2], they have a fungistatic effect according to technical standard [9]. The results for the mould-proof properties of PCCFA reach 5 degree of fungi growth i.e. PCCFA does not have a fungistatic effect and the sample surface is fully covered by fungi (fungi colonies cover 100% of the sample surface). However, FBCFA and FBCBA increases pH values of the water leachate up to 12.3 and 12.5, which affects the viability of microorganisms [2].

Generally speaking, CLS and IMCL are suitable for reaching 0 degree of fungi growth according to technical standard [9]. On the basis of the experimental results, it can thus be stated that the CLS and IMCL are defined as the fungistatic building materials [3] according to technical standard [9].

GGBS with 0 degree of fungi growth is fungistatic building materials [4] according to technical standard [9]. The ternary mixtures of GGBS, PCC and gypsum possess different mould-proof properties, depending on the amount of GGBS that was added to the mixture (Table 4). The results imply that the higher the amount of GGBS in the mixture, the more antimicrobially active the particular cement mixture becomes. With GGBS content in the mixtures of 65wt.% and higher, the mould-proof properties of the cements reach 0 degree of fungi growth.

In general, GGBS, CEM III/A 32,5 N (with GGBS content of 65 wt.%), CEM III/B 32,5 N and CEM III/C 32,5 N are suitable for reaching 0 degree of fungi growth [4] and they are defined as fungistatic building materials according to technical standard [9]. The inhibiting zone did not form on the agar around all of the tested samples. This means that the tested samples do not have a fungicidal effect. From a practical point of view, the fungistatic wastes and by-products are suitable for achieving a mould-free environment and potentially offer wide application possibilities in the building industry from preventive use to the purposes of repairing and reconstruction. However, the mechanism of the antimicrobial effects of the tested samples should be a subject of further study.

Conclusion

From the results of determining the antimicrobial efficiency of individual slag samples, it can be stated, that calcareous ladle slag (4S) intensely inhibited growth of G+ and also G− bacteria, had the highest antibacterial activity, which was also proven at the lowest concentration of slag S4: 10% in growth media. Slag S4 possessed the highest anti-yeast activity. Growth of all model yeasts was completely inhibited at concentration as low as 10% of slag S4, at both alkaline and neutral pH of the growth media. Slag S4 had the most inhibiting activity for all fungi. It completely inhibited growth of almost all model filamentous fungi in concentrations from 20-60% at alkaline pH, with mostly a fungistatic effect and at slag S4 concentration of 60% with fungicide effect on some of the selected model filamentous fungi. On the contrary, copper slag (5S) did not significantly affect the growth of the model bacteria. Slag S5 partially inhibited the growth of the model yeasts; however, total inhibition of the growth of yeasts was not observed even at the highest concentration of 60% in growth media. The lowest impact on the growth of model filamentous fungi was observed in the presence of air-cooled blast-furnace slag (2S) and slag S5 in growth media.

Based on the obtained results, the antibacterial efficiency of individual slag samples decreased in the order: S4 > S3 > S2 > S1a = S1b > S5. The decrease in anti-yeast efficiency of the individual slag samples was in the order: S4 > S1a = S1b = S3 > S2 > S5. Model filamentous fungi were selectively sensitive to the presence of tested slags, but it is only possible to determine the approximate order of inhibition efficiency of slags to filamentous micromycetes: S4 > S3 = S1a = S1b > S5 > S2.

The study confirmed the fungistatic properties of of fluidized bed combustion fly (FBCFA) and bottom ash (FBCBA), carbide lime slurry (CLS), commercial lime (IMCL) and granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS) as well as Blastfurnace cements containing the granulated blast-furnace slag additions from 65 wt.% to 95 wt.%, with exception of pulverized fly ash (PCCFA) and Blastfurnace cements containing the granulated blast-furnace slag additions lower than 65 wt.%, which have no fungistatic properties. The study of mould-proof properties can be summarized: FBCFA, FBCBA, CLS, IMCL, GGBS, Cements with GGBS content of 65 wt.% and more are fungistatic building materials according to technical standard ČSN 72 4310.

References

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