Gellan hydrogel as a powerful tool in paper cleaning process: A detailed study

• Gellan hydrogel is proposed as a new method for wet cleaning of paper artworks.
• Gellan hydrogel has been used to clean four different paper samples.
• Every sample has been fully characterized before and after cleaning.
• For our studies a multitechnique approach has been used.

HypothesisWet cleaning of ancient papers is one of the most critical steps during a conservation treatment. It is used to improve the optical qualities of a graphic work and remove dust and by-products resulting from cellulose degradation. Nevertheless, washing treatment usually involves a substantial impact on the original morphological structure of paper and can sometimes be dangerous for water sensitive inks and pigments.ExperimentsThe use of rigid hydrogel of Gellan gum as an alternative paper cleaning treatment is developed. The application of a rigid hydrogel minimizes damages caused by the use of water, and therefore is much more respectful for the original integrity of ancient paper.FindingsGellan hydrogel has been used to clean paper samples belonging to different centuries (from XVI to XIX) and therefore, characterized by a different story in terms of degradation condition and paper composition. Several techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and pH measurements, has been employed to assess the effectiveness and safety of the proposed cleaning method.

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