Biofilm associated with pigmented areas on a waterproofing coating surface

Clotilde Maestri; Ronan L. Hébert; Patrick Di Martino; Clotilde Maestri; Ronan L. Hébert; Patrick Di Martino

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2025005

AIMS Microbiology

2025, Volume 11, Issue 1: 74-86. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025005

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Biofilm associated with pigmented areas on a waterproofing coating surface

1.
Laboratoire ERRMECe, Cergy Paris University, 1 Rue Descartes, 95000 Neuville-sur-Oise, France
2.
Laboratoire GEC, Cergy Paris University, 1 Rue Descartes, 95000 Neuville-sur-Oise, France

Received: 28 August 2024 Revised: 13 January 2025 Accepted: 23 January 2025 Published: 25 January 2025

Waterproofing coatings are composite materials made of different layers with complementary functionalities. They may suffer damage that can modify their aesthetic appearance and/or their functionality. In this study, dark stains appearing on a waterproofing coating of a public swimming pool were mapped and characterized at a macroscopic scale through visual observation and by colorimetric analysis, as well as at a microscopic scale with a digital microscope, a confocal laser scanning microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. Five stains were differentiated macroscopically and characterized using colorimetry and principal component analysis. Microscopic observations showed the presence of microorganisms of varied morphology, some filamentous but mostly unicellular. Biofilms consisting of ovoid fluorescent cells with the morphology of Chlorophyta and unicellular cyanobacteria were particularly abundant. The pigmented stains were located at top coat disorders where microbial colonization and biofilm development were observed. The microscopic observations suggested that physical degradation of the surface of the material would have constituted a prerequisite for colonization by pigmented microorganisms which would have led to the development of macroscopically visible pigmented areas. In this case study, the damage remained superficial and did not alter the watertightness of the material so far.
- biodegradation,
- discolouration,
- coating,
- varnish,
- polyurethane,
- biofilm
Citation: Clotilde Maestri, Ronan L. Hébert, Patrick Di Martino. Biofilm associated with pigmented areas on a waterproofing coating surface[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2025, 11(1): 74-86. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025005

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Abstract

Waterproofing coatings are composite materials made of different layers with complementary functionalities. They may suffer damage that can modify their aesthetic appearance and/or their functionality. In this study, dark stains appearing on a waterproofing coating of a public swimming pool were mapped and characterized at a macroscopic scale through visual observation and by colorimetric analysis, as well as at a microscopic scale with a digital microscope, a confocal laser scanning microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. Five stains were differentiated macroscopically and characterized using colorimetry and principal component analysis. Microscopic observations showed the presence of microorganisms of varied morphology, some filamentous but mostly unicellular. Biofilms consisting of ovoid fluorescent cells with the morphology of Chlorophyta and unicellular cyanobacteria were particularly abundant. The pigmented stains were located at top coat disorders where microbial colonization and biofilm development were observed. The microscopic observations suggested that physical degradation of the surface of the material would have constituted a prerequisite for colonization by pigmented microorganisms which would have led to the development of macroscopically visible pigmented areas. In this case study, the damage remained superficial and did not alter the watertightness of the material so far.

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the National Association for Research and Technology (ANRT) as part of the project “Development of polymeric building sealing materials resistant to microbial biodegradation”, Cifre n° 2021/0458.
The scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy images were obtained at the Microscopies & Analyses platform (CY Cergy Paris Université) supported by the Ile de France Region through the SESAME system.

Conflict of interest

Patrick Di Martino is an editorial boardmember for AIMS Microbiology and was not involved inthe editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors declare that there are no competing interests.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, P.D.M. and C.M.; methodology, P.D.M., R.L.H.; validation, P.D.M., R.L.H.; investigation, C.M.; writing–preparation of the original draft, P.D.M. and C.M.; review and editing of the writing, R.L.H.; supervision, P.D.M.; project administration, P.D.M.; funding acquisition, P.D.M. All authors have read and accepted the published version of the manuscript.

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