Degradation by-products of ancient paper leaves from wash waters

Abstract

International audienceWater cleaning of paper leaves is a preliminary step in many customary deacidification treatments of ancient books in conservation workshops. Usually, the washing solutions are considered “waste waters” and they are thrown away. In this work, an analytical protocol for the analysis of wash waters for the assessment of the conservation state of ancient books is proposed. Wash waters of leaves under different conservation conditions of a 16th-century- rinted book were investigated using UV-Vis, IR, Raman, NMR, EPR, XRF, ESI-MS, ICP-MS, CE-PDA and elemental microanalysis. Analysis of the wash water extracts allowed one to identify a large number of degradation by-products, ranging from low-molecular mass organic acids to cellulose oligomers. Reasons for the very different conservation conditions of the leaves emerged, indicating that wash water analysis provides a deep insight into the conservation state and composition of leaves as well as degradation reactions occurred on the

Stabilization of the Tensile Strength of Aged Cellulose Paper by Cholinium-Amino Acid Ionic Liquid Treatment

“…The frequency position of the peak at 1735 cm −1 , whose intensity increases with aging, corresponds to the IR absorption peak frequencies of expected cellulose oxidation products, as described in the literature. 18,42,43,50,51,56,57 In the artificially aged, pretreated sample in Figure 6, a shoulder at about 1660 cm −1 is seen, not present in the untreated sample. We can tentatively attribute this shoulder to degradation byproducts of IL (see discussion below).…”

“…The peaks at 1280 and 1320 cm –1 in Figure c and d, which are related to stretching, bending, and rocking of CH 2 groups, are characterized by a decrease in absorbance values with aging. , The bands at 1590–1740 cm –1 in Figure b are identified as an envelope of vibrational modes of various functional groups that vary strongly with oxidation and dehydration reactions, and therefore, it is the most suitable region for investigation of the effect of IL immersion before and after aging . These functional groups are carbonyl groups (1710–1740 cm –1 ), carboxylates (1550–1610 cm –1 ), α-diketones and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups (about 1660 cm –1 ), and CC double bond (∼1640 cm –1 ). ,,, …”

“…18 These functional groups are carbonyl groups (1710−1740 cm −1 ), carboxylates (1550−1610 cm −1 ), αdiketones and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups (about 1660 cm −1 ), and CC double bond (∼1640 cm −1 ). 42,43,50,51 Infrared Spectrum of Cholinum Glycinate. Since the mechanism behind the paper strengthening by IL was identified thanks to FT-IR spectroscopy, it was necessary to measure the IR absorption of the IL itself.…”

2016 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its applications

“…Turning now to the characterisation of paper, parchment and inks, Bronzato et al 311 used a multi-technique approach that included XRF to assess the state of conservation of ancient books. Their methodology was to analyse 'wash waters' used as a preliminary step to wash leaves of a book as part of the de-acidication treatment in a conservation workshop.…”