Seaweed-Derived Phenolic Compounds as Natural Antifungal Additives for Bio-Based Building Materials
- Suchi Chai (Bio-Integrated Design, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), UK)
- Anete Salmane (Bio-Integrated Design, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), UK and Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London (UCL), UK)
- Brenda Parker (Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London (UCL), UK)
- Hector Altamirano (Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, BSEER, University College London (UCL), UK)
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of seaweed-derived phenolic compounds to enhance mould resistance in bio-based building materials. Phenolic compounds extracted from brown seaweed were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. In vitro tests using the poisoned food technique showed an average inhibition rate of 53.3 % by day 4. When incorporated into a biocomposite, phenolic treatment resulted in 84 % inhibition of fungal colonisation over 8 days. While complete inhibition was not achieved, treated samples consistently exhibited less fungal growth compared to controls. These findings warrant further study into the long-term performance of seaweed-derived phenolic compounds and their antifungal efficacy against a wider range of indoor mould species.Keywords: Seaweed-derived phenolic compounds, Antifungal agents, Bioactive additives for building materials
How to Cite:
Chai, S., Salmane, A., Parker, B. & Altamirano, H., (2025) “Seaweed-Derived Phenolic Compounds as Natural Antifungal Additives for Bio-Based Building Materials”, UCL Open Environment 7(S1). doi: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.icmb25.a24
Rights: Author, [2025]
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