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The disinfection of deteriogenic microorganisms and the removal of induced chromatic alterations in artworks are still open challenges in the field of conservation. For this purpose, a new alcoholic hydrogel was tested to remove an extensive fungal attack from a multimaterial collage by the artist Alessandro Kokocinski and to mitigate chromatic changes caused by the contamination of its poster paper and plywood support layers. A Gellan gum-based hydrogel was used, which was modified by adding a high concentration of alcohol (66.7% ethanol), to give the system an effective disinfecting agent in addition to the detergent capacity of the gel for water-sensitive works of art. It was successfully tested on samples mimicking the complex stratigraphy of the artwork under study. To create replica mock-ups, the artwork materials and stratigraphy were investigated through diagnostic and laboratory techniques such as multispectral imaging, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis coupled with gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. The treatment was shown to have a disinfecting effect on the test samples and did not alter their structure, allowing us to apply the method to the artwork. Here, the hydrogel successfully removed and inhibited fungal proliferation in addition to mitigating the color changes caused by fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Irradiation with γ rays is widely used in the sterilization of a large variety of products and materials in the field of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food industry and cultural heritage. It is also applied on wood materials, with the purpose of improving their shelf-life, by lowering the microbial charge and hence the microbial-related deterioration rate. A fundamental issue when applying γ rays is the preservation of the chemico-physical as well as of the structural and mechanical properties of the materials irradiated, since a significant change of properties may jeopardize the use of the materials for the purpose intended. To this end, in this paper, we analyzed the chemico-physical properties of four different types of wood used for the construction of musical instruments namely fir, maple, poplar and durmast oak under increasing doses of γ rays. In detail, the effect of incremental radiation doses was evaluated by comparing the results obtained by acoustic tests with those providing information at molecular level, i.e., cyclic voltammetry, linear square voltammetry and infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, in this work, the glucose released as a result of the degradation of wood cellulose and hemicellulose, has been analyzed for the first time, with an innovative tool, based on the use of a Gellan gel. The integrated approach presented here, based on both traditional and innovative techniques has proven to be highly efficient in providing a complete picture of wood behavior following γ-ray irradiation, at both the macroscopic and the molecular level. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gellan hydrogel is used as a cleaning agent for paper artworks. The purposes of this work were to give the gellan hydrogel both a microbial resistance and a cytocidal action against the biodeteriogens using hydrolates. Broth microdilution assays were performed to identify the fungicidal action of 16 hydrolatesvs3 fungal strains. The study concerned the Minimal Fungicidal Concentration and pH, colour, and ultra-structural variations on all paper samples, by placing them in contact with GELYD (GELlan + hYDrolat). Thein vitrotests showed that eight out of 16 hydrolates strongly inhibited fungal growth, but only two of them (Monarda fistulosa,Citrus aurantiumsubspamara) showedin situfungicidal action. Data indicate a new and interesting eco-innovative use of hydrolates, since GELYD is able not only to clean paper artworks, but also to kill the fungal cells present on paper that are potentially harmful for paper and operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] 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. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]