title: Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles from solvothermal reaction for the deacidification of degraded waterlogged wood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A combination of acid and iron ions inside the wood has been corroding the cellulose matrix of the Swedish warship Vasa, imposing its deacidification. Past deacidification treatments displayed poor penetration inside the wood matrix with limited efficacy. A vacuum assisted treatment of wood using newly developed calcium hydroxide nanoparticle dispersions represents a possible candidate for the treatment of acidic waterlogged wood objects such as sculptures and decorative artifacts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A solvothermal process was used for the synthesis of calcium hydroxide nanoparticle dispersions. Before the application on waterlogged wood, the physico-chemical characterization of these systems was carried out using several techniques. The efficacy of the deacidification treatment of wood samples from the Vasa was assessed by determination of pH and Differential Thermal Gravimetric (DTG) measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed solvothermal reactions can be used to produce stable and highly concentrated calcium hydroxide nanoparticle dispersions in alcohols, needing no further purification before the application. This process has also the advantage to be upscalable to industrial level. Both pH and DTG measurements showed that the newly developed dispersions can homogenously penetrate inside the wood up to 20cm, neutralizing acidity and creating an alkaline buffer inside the wooden matrix, to hinder the degradation of residual cellulose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: poggi@csgi.unifi.it.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: toccafondi@csgi.unifi.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toccafondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: chelazzi@csgi.unifi.it.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chelazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry and CSGI, University of Venice Ca' Foscari, 30170 Venezia, Italy. Electronic address: cantonpa@unive.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Canton
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: giorgi@csgi.unifi.it.
authors.forename: Rodorico
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: piero.baglioni@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baglioni
keywords: Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles; Cellulose; Deacidification; Vasa; Wood; pH-adjustment