title: Gellan hydrogel as a powerful tool in paper cleaning process: a detailed study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Wet 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gellan 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00173 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzuca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00173 Rome, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Biostrutture e Biosistemi "INBB", Viale Medaglie d'Oro 305, 00136 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: laura.micheli@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00173 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00173 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basoli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00173 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cervelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Restauro, Istituto Centrale per il Restauro e la Conservazione del Patrimonio Archivistico e Librario (ICRCPAL), Via Milano 76, 00184 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iannuccelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Restauro, Istituto Centrale per il Restauro e la Conservazione del Patrimonio Archivistico e Librario (ICRCPAL), Via Milano 76, 00184 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotgiu
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00173 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palleschi
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007558:Italy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010209:Paper / Q000266:history*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C048288:gellan gum
keywords: FTIR; Gel residues; Gellan gum; HPLC; Paper conservation; Paper morphology cultural heritage; SEM