Analysis of capillary absorption properties of porous limestone material and its relation to the migration depth of bacteria in the absorbed biomineralizing compound

Abstract

In the present paper migration characteristics of Bacillus cereus in porous limestone, as well as capillary absorption and elevation properties of porous limestone were analyzed. For the measurements two newly designed measuring methods were used: a combined capillary absorption – capillary elevation test, and printing-on-agar technique of treated specimens on cereus-selective agar plates. As result of the experiments relation between the capillary absorption and capillary elevation coecients was validated, and physical meaning of the free water-content was clarified. Moreover, both the printing-on-agar technique and the combined capillary absorption – capillary elevation test turned out to be efficient methods for the analysis of the migration height of the bacteria. Combined results of these tests showed, that elevation height of the bacteria can be enhanced upon application of more liquid curing compound. It was also found, that the amount of the curing compound can be partly substituted with the post-addition of water without significant decrease of the migration height.