Page 23 - Analityka 4/2015

Biocidal efficacy Archeometria
of vapour-phase hydrogen
peroxide

BASED ON ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF LEATHER
SHOES STORED IN THE FORMER KL AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU IN OŚWIĘCIM

Museum exhibits, inter alia shoes, are exposed to a multi-step and complex microbial corrosion, which leads to
the materials destruction. Its symptoms may be stains, surface tarnishes, structure weakening and color changes
of the museum objects. Searching of easy to use, biocidal efficient and environmentally friendly method of
museum exhibits disinfection, a few pieces of footwear were tested for disinfecting with vapour-phase hydro-
gen peroxide in a concentration of 300 ppm for 5 minutes. To evaluate the biocidal effectiveness of VHP, the
microbial contamination degree of a leather shoe was checked before and after the process. The total number
of microorganisms, the number of fungi colonies and the number of bacteria colonies of the genera Staphylo-
coccus, Bacillus, Clostridium, and Pseudomonas cultured from different parts of the leather shoe surface were
assessed. A significant decrease in the number of microorganisms on the object surface after application of VHP
in this parametric cycle was observed, however the best results were achieved on smooth surfaces and inferior
on wrinkled surfaces of the shoe.

ANALITYKA – NUMER 4, ROK (XVI) 2015 49