CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF MICROBIAL ENZYMES IN WOOD CLEANING

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate applying microbial enzymes in cleaning archaeological wood and their effect on

its chemical composition, using different concentrations of two types of microbial enzymes; the protease and

α-amylase. Earlier, a preliminary study investigated the possibility of using enzymes in cleaning archaeolog

ical wood and concluded that enzymatic treatment can be a potential method in cleaning archaeological

wood and recommended that further research is needed to evaluate their effect on wood. Here, the colour

change measurement was undertaken to assess the effect of the chosen concentrations on the colour of the

wood surface. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to monitor the changes in the main

components of wood; cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, as a result of different concentrations of the chosen

enzymes. The results proved that the lowest concentrations of both enzymes considered the safest concentra

tions that can be used in wood cleaning. Besides, the increase in the enzyme concentration causes partial

remove of lignin and promote the degradation of cellulose especially after aging.