No abstract

Incorporation of living organisms, such as photosynthetic organisms, on the structure envelope has become a priority in the area of architecture and construction due to aesthetical, economic and ecological advantages. Important research efforts are made to achieve further improvements, such as for the development of cementitious materials with an enhanced bioreceptivity to stimulate biological growth. Previously, the study of the bioreceptivity of cementitious materials has been carried out mainly under laboratory conditions although field-scale experiments may present different results.\ud \ud This work aims at analysing the colonisation of cementitious materials with different levels of bioreceptivity by placing them in three different environmental conditions. Specimens did not present visual colonisation, which indicates that environmental conditions have a greater impact than intrinsic properties of the material at this stage. Therefore, it appears that in addition to an optimized bioreceptivity of the concrete (i.e., composition, porosity and roughness), extra measures are indispensable for a rapid development of biological growth on concrete surfaces. An analysis of the colonisation in terms of genus and quantity of the most representative microorganisms found on the specimens for each location was carried out and related to weather conditions, such as monthly average temperature and total precipitation, and air quality in terms of NOx, SO2, CO and O3.\ud \ud OPC-based specimens presented a higher colonisation regarding both biodiversity and quantity. However, results obtained in a previous experimental programme under laboratory conditions suggested a higher suitability of Magnesium Phosphate Cement-based (MPC-based) specimens for algal growth. Consequently, carefully considering the environment and the relationships between the different organisms present in an environment is vital for successfully using a cementitious material as a substrate for biological growth.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

SUMMARY:If we are to monitor the chemical processes in cementitious materials, then pH assays in the pore solutions of cement pastes, mortars, and concretes are of key importance. However, there is no standard method that regulates the sample-preparation method for pH determination. The state-of-the-art of different methods for pH determination in cementitious materials is presented in this paper and the influence of sample preparation in each case. Moreover, an experimental campaign compares three different techniques for pH determination. Its results contribute to establishing a basic criterion to help researchers select the most suitable method, depending on the purpose of the research. A simple tool is described for selecting the easiest and the most economic pH determination method, depending on the objective; especially for researchers and those with limited experience in this field. RESUMEN:Revisión sobre la preparación de muestras de hormigón y su influencia sobre la determinación del pH. Determinar el pH de la fase acuosa de los poros de pastas de cemento, morteros y hormigones tiene gran importancia en el monitoreo de los procesos químicos que tienen lugar en los materiales cementiceos. Sin embargo, no existe una normativa que regule el método de preparación de la muestra para la determinación de su pH. Este artículo presenta un estado del conocimiento de diferentes metodologías para la determinación del pH de materiales cementiceos y la influencia del método de preparación según el objetivo. Además, se presenta una campaña experimental comparando tres técnicas diferentes. Dicha campaña contribuye a establecer un criterio simple que ayude al investigador en la selección del método más adecuado dependiendo del objeto de studio. Este artículo tiene por objetivo ser una herramienta sencilla para seleccionar la metodología más fácil y económica para determiner el pH dependiendo del objetivo, especialmente para investigadores noveles o aquellos con escasa experiencia.