NOPAL: Natural Origin Protective for Artistic buildings in Lecce stone. Preliminary results.

The work presents the preliminary results of the experimentation of innovative coatings for the protection of artefacts in Lecce stone. Starting from the cladodium of the species Opuntia Ficus-Indica (NOPAL), plant extracts were obtained and their performance have been studied through aging tests and the use of optical and spectroscopic methods, in order to develop a new ecofriendly product, that meets the requirements of non-toxicity, biodegradability, and low cost, and able to efficiently preserve the built heritage made of Lecce stone.