Isolation and characterization of microorganisms associated with paint deterioration in storage

Abstract

Two samples of paints (emulsion and oil based paints) were analysed for organisms that are responsible for their deterioration. The result revealed that Bacillus cereus, B. subtlis and Staphylococcus aureus were implicated in their deterioration. B. cereus had the highest frequency of occurrence in both emulsion and oil based paints, closely followed by S,aureus. The fungi species isolated were Pullularia species, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A flavus, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporium gypzeum, Candida stellatoidea, Penicillium notatum, Trichophyton egninii, Mucor sp., and Alternaria sp. The results obtained suggest that microorganisms of diverse genera are responsible for the deterioration of emulsion and oil paint