Search

In Germany, in the last decade, a change in working methods in conservation, especially in libraries and archives, has taken place. This change is partly the result of the foundation of academic training programmes in Stuttgart, Munich and Cologne. It is marked by a shift away from traditional artisanal ways of working to standardized industrial production techniques for mass-scale treatment of library and archive materials. In the educational programme at Stuttgart, new co-operative standards in training and research have been set up, involving industry, regional conservation centres and university institutions. New standardized conservation technologies and procedures have been developed, including marketable equipment for binding repair, ‘instant’ enzyme poultices, suitable fixing agents for water-soluble inks and dyes, aerosol treatments for consolidation of flaking paint layers and chemical stabilization of iron-gall ink corrosion. The developments in the profession have already led to a redefinition and enhancement of areas of responsibility in certain conservation positions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The removal of oil stains from paper especially of drying-oils such as linseed oil, is a challenge for the conservator. The enzyme lipase is capable of causing the degradation of fats and oils based on triacylglyceride structures. The existing literature gives a confusing picture of conditions under which lipase can successfully be used in paper conservation. A series of tests on unaged, artificially aged and naturally aged test samples of linseed-oil stains on various papers were made. The results indicate that the application of lipases under the conventional application conditions exhibit a very low effectiveness, if any. The rule of buffer, wetting agent and pH is also investigated. In the light of these results Tris buffer and wetting agents are in most cases responsible for improvements to colour, bleachability and wettability of the linseed-oil stains. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]