Purpose This paper aims at examining the potentiality of using Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces’ (Hs) aqueous extract to remove soot stains from the surface of fire-damaged silver gelatin prints. It further studies the cleaning efficiency and impact of both a contact method and a noncontact method with argon dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD Ar. plasma) on the different properties of silver gelatin prints. Accordingly, it prompts using economic, eco-friendly materials and methods in the photograph conservation field. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the aims of this paper, four silver gelatin prints were stained with soot and treated with the (Hs) aqueous extract as a contact method and DBD Ar. plasma combined with the aqueous extract as a noncontact method. The assessment was carried out using digital microscopy, atomic force microscopy and spectrophotometer to study the efficiency of the tested treatments and their impact on the surface of the photographs. FTIR was used to monitor the state of the binder after cleaning. Furthermore, the pH and the mechanical properties were measured. Findings The contact method resulted in lower concentrations of (Hs) extract that efficiently cleaned the surface without causing any stains or damage to the treated photographs. The noncontact method (plasma with an aqueous extract) proved to be less effective in cleaning and made the binder more susceptible to deterioration. Originality/value This paper reveals the success of (Hs) aqueous extract in cleaning soot on vulnerable photographs’ surfaces.

This study is the first involving the use of ethyl lactate as a green solvent on vulnerable photographs in an endeavour to protect the environment by using eco-friendly economic materials and methods in photograph conservation field. The paper is an experimental study aims at evaluating the efficiency of Ethyl lactate (E.L.) as an eco-friendly solvent in the removal of adhesive stains found on developed-out (DOP) silver gelatin prints. For achieving the paper objectives, three silver gelatin prints were stained with an adhesive and treated with three concentrations of E.L. The study assessment was implemented by digital microscope, atomic force microscope, and spectrophotometer to observe the changes which may occur on the surface post treatments; in addition to the use of attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to investigate the gelatin binder layer after treatment. Moreover, the mechanical properties and the pH value were measured. The three concentrations of ethyl lactate were efficient in cleaning the surface without causing any damage to the structure of photographs. The paper proved the success of ethyl lactate treatments as an eco-friendly solvent in cleaning adhesive stains from developingout silver gelatin prints.