{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,17]],"date-time":"2026-01-17T20:42:24Z","timestamp":1768682544831,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,20]],"date-time":"2024-03-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1710892800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"project I&amp;D&amp;I OBTain","award":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084"]}]},{"name":"project I&amp;D&amp;I OBTain","award":["2014\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2014\/2020"]}]},{"name":"project I&amp;D&amp;I OBTain","award":["UIDB\/00616\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00616\/2020"]}]},{"name":"project I&amp;D&amp;I OBTain","award":["UIDP\/00616\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00616\/2020"]}]},{"name":"European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)","award":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084"]}]},{"name":"European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)","award":["2014\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2014\/2020"]}]},{"name":"European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)","award":["UIDB\/00616\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00616\/2020"]}]},{"name":"European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)","award":["UIDP\/00616\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00616\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["2014\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2014\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["UIDB\/00616\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00616\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["UIDP\/00616\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00616\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>A favorable environment for fungi colonization in building materials\u2019 surfaces can emerge when certain hygrothermal conditions occur. Thus, reducing fungal growth susceptibility is of major interest. Furthermore, if the integration of bio-wastes is performed in parallel with the development of innovative materials for this purpose, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly material can be obtained. In this study, the fungal susceptibility of lime mortars incorporating almond-shell powder (ASP) microparticles (2 and 4%, wt.\u2013wt. in relation to the binder content) was evaluated. The particle-dispersion technique was employed to prepare the bio-waste introduced in the mixtures. The fungal susceptibility of ASP samples was compared with nanotitania (n-TiO2) with recognized antifungal properties. Mechanical strength, water absorption, and wettability tests were also performed for a better characterization of the composites. Although the addition of 2% ASP led to mechanical properties reduction, an increase in the compressive and flexural strength resulted for 4% of the ASP content. Difficulties in fungal growth were observed for the samples incorporating ASP. No fungal development was detected in the mortar with 2% of ASP, which may be correlated with an increase in the surface hydrophobic behavior. Furthermore, mortars with ASP revealed a reduction in water absorption by capillarity ability, especially with 4% content, suggesting changes in the microstructure and pore characteristics. The results also demonstrated that an improvement in the physical and mechanical properties of the lime mortars can be achieved when ASP microparticles are previously subjected to dispersion techniques.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17061426","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,20]],"date-time":"2024-03-20T10:44:33Z","timestamp":1710931473000},"page":"1426","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Antifungal Susceptibility Assessment of Innovative and Non-Conventional Lime Mortars Incorporating Almond-Shell Powder Bio-Waste Subjected to Particle-Dispersion Technique"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7337-1652","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alexandre","family":"Jer\u00f3nimo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CQ-VR, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Mafalda","family":"Loureiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science and Technology (ECT), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6533-4309","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mariana","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CQ-VR, Department of Chemistry, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7577-4938","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ver\u00f3nica","family":"De Zea Bermudez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CQ-VR, Department of Chemistry, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4451-0446","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Briga-S\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CQ-VR, School of Science and Technology (ECT), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"European Commission (2023, December 13). A European Green Deal: Striving to Be the First Climate-Neutral Continent, Available online: https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/strategy\/priorities-2019-2024\/european-green-deal_en."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Hilton, S. (2023, December 13). Making Construction Materials Greener with Nanotechnology. Available online: https:\/\/blog.agchemigroup.eu\/making-construction-materials-greener-with-nanotechnology\/."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9375293","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/9375293","article-title":"Dispersion of high concentrations of carbon nanofibers in portland cement mortars","volume":"2017","author":"Hogancamp","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Nanomater."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Huppmann, T., Yatsenko, S., Krampe, E., Kretschmer, K., and Bastian, M. (2023, December 13). Di\u00f3xido de Tit\u00e2nio Aumenta A\u00e7\u00e3o Antimicrobiana em Compostos Pl\u00e1sticos. (In Portuguese)."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cook, D., and Good, L. (2021). Antifungal polymeric materials and nanocomposites. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2021.780328"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1553","DOI":"10.18520\/cs\/v121\/i12\/1553-1560","article-title":"Fungal degradation of cultural heritage monuments and management options","volume":"121","author":"Tyagi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3811","DOI":"10.1007\/s00253-022-11957-4","article-title":"Biocontamination and diversity of epilithic bacteria and fungi colonising outdoor stone and mortar sculptures","volume":"106","author":"Silva","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Szulc, J., Komar, M., Kata, I., Szafran, K., and Gutarowska, B.J.C. (2023). Novel Method for Assessing the Protection Lifetime of Building Coatings against Fungi. Coatings, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/coatings13122026"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lobo, F.C., Franco, A.R., Fernandes, E.M., and Reis, R.L. (2021). An overview of the antimicrobial properties of lignocellulosic materials. Molecules, 26.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26061749"},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Jer\u00f3nimo, A., Aguiar, B., Soares, C., and Lima, N. (2022). Viruses, Bacteria and Fungi in the Built Environment, Elsevier."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Netregs (2023, December 13). Pesticides and Biocides. Available online: https:\/\/www.netregs.org.uk\/environmental-topics\/materials-fuels-and-equipment\/pesticides-and-biocides\/."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7556","DOI":"10.1021\/es901461c","article-title":"Fungicide risk assessment for aquatic ecosystems: Importance of interspecific variation, toxic mode of action, and exposure regime","volume":"43","author":"Maltby","year":"2009","journal-title":"Environ. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2137","DOI":"10.1128\/jb.176.8.2137-2142.1994","article-title":"Biofilms, the customized microniche","volume":"176","author":"Costerton","year":"1994","journal-title":"J. Bacteriol."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Foster, A., Roberto, S.S., and Igari, A.T. (2016, January 5\u20136). Economia circular e res\u00edduos s\u00f3lidos: Uma revis\u00e3o sistem\u00e1tica sobre a efici\u00eancia ambiental e econ\u00f4mica. Proceedings of the 18th International Meeting on Business Management and the Environment (ENGEMA 2016), Sao Paulo, Brazil. (In Portuguese)."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barreca, D., Nabavi, S.M., Sureda, A., Rasekhian, M., Raciti, R., Silva, A.S., Annunziata, G., Arnone, A., Tenore, G.C., and S\u00fcntar, I. (2020). Almonds (Prunus dulcis Mill. DA webb): A source of nutrients and health-promoting compounds. Nutrients, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12030672"},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Hassler, M. (2023, December 13). World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Available online: https:\/\/www.worldplants.de\/world-plants-complete-list\/complete-plant-list\/?name=Prunus-dulcis."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sottile, F., Massaglia, S., and Peano, C. (2020). Ecological and economic indicators for the evaluation of almond (Prunus dulcis L.) orchard renewal in Sicily. Agriculture, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/agriculture10070301"},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"701","article-title":"Almonds (Prunus)","volume":"290","author":"Kester","year":"1991","journal-title":"Genet. Resour. Temp. Fruit Nut Crops"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Doll, D.A., Freire de Andrade, J., and Serrano, P. (2021). Produ\u00e7\u00e3o de am\u00eandoa em Portugal: Tend\u00eancias de planta\u00e7\u00e3o e desafios de produ\u00e7\u00e3o num setor em desenvolvimento. Artigo T\u00e9cnico, (In Portuguese)."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"(2023, December 13). BioPOWDER. Available online: https:\/\/www.bio-powder.com\/en\/almond-shell-powder."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, X., Liu, Y., Hao, J., and Wang, W. (2018). Study of almond shell characteristics. Materials, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma11091782"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/710175","article-title":"A review on nanomaterial dispersion, microstructure, and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube and nanofiber reinforced cementitious composites","volume":"2013","author":"Parveen","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Nanomater."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1590\/S0366-69132009000100003","article-title":"Revis\u00e3o: Conceitos de dispers\u00e3o e empacotamento de part\u00edculas para a produ\u00e7\u00e3o de concretos especiais aplicados na constru\u00e7\u00e3o civil","volume":"55","author":"Pandolfelli","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cer\u00e2mica"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"871","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matpr.2022.03.453","article-title":"A literature review on the effect of using ceramic waste as supplementary cementitious material in cement composites on workability and compressive strength","volume":"65","author":"Jain","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mater. Today Proc."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1740","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1122225","article-title":"General strategies for nanoparticle dispersion","volume":"311","author":"Mackay","year":"2006","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2019). Methods of Test for Masonry\u2014Part 11: Determination of Flexural and Compressive Strength of Hardened Mortar (Standard No. NP EN 1015-11:2019)."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"(2002). Methods of Test for Mortar for Mansory\u2014Part 18: Determination of Water Absorption Coefficient Due to Capillary Action of Hardened Mortar (Standard No. NP EN 1015-18:2002)."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"(2002). Hygrothermal Performance of Building Materials and Products\u2014Determination of Water Absorption Coefficient by Partial Immersion (Standard No. ISO 15148:2002)."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1068","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2015.01.061","article-title":"A review of the recent advances in superhydrophobic surfaces and the emerging energy-related applications","volume":"82","author":"Zhang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1192","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apsusc.2019.03.156","article-title":"Hydraulic lime mortars with antifungal properties","volume":"483","author":"Aguiar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Appl. Surf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119368","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2020.119368","article-title":"Hydraulic lime mortars incorporating micro cork granules with antifungal properties","volume":"255","author":"Soares","year":"2020","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"(2013). Specification for Mortar for Masonry\u2014Part 1: Rendering and Plastering Mortar (Standard No. NP EN 998-1:2013)."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(2015). Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Synthetic Polymeric Materials to Fungi (Standard No. ASTM G21-15(2021)e1)."}],"container-title":["Materials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/17\/6\/1426\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:16:46Z","timestamp":1760105806000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/17\/6\/1426"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,20]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3]]}},"alternative-id":["ma17061426"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ma17061426","relation":{},"ISSN":["1996-1944"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1944","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,20]]}}}