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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Modified atmosphere and humidity packages for conservation of paper antiques

Journal of Wood Science volume 53, pages 121–126 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Modified atmosphere and humidity (MAH) agents were developed to manipulate the gas composition and humidity for controlling the foxing of paper materials during storage. Sodium ascorbate, sodium carbonate decahydrate, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, and silica gel were selected as the basic ingredients to formulate the MAH agents that could effectively remove oxygen, release carbon dioxide, and control the relative humidity (RH). With all the MAH agents developed in our study, RH was reduced and maintained without decreasing the MAH efficiency. To evaluate the inhibition of microorganisms on antique paper by MAH agents, the properties of Wikstroemia papers were measured after accelerated aging and inoculation with Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum. Under high (90%) or low (50%) RH conditions, as long as MAH agents were used, even after 80 days, the color difference value of Wikstroemia paper was kept below 1.5 and foxing was not found. Paper packaged without MAH agents and under RH as high as 90% showed a substantial color difference in 60 days. Snowflake-like foxing was also found by ultraviolet light inspection. Wikstroemia paper inoculated with P. citrinum without an MAH agent showed a significant color difference in 80 days.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Products Science, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, 60004, Taiwan

    Lang-Dong Lin

  2. School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, College of Bio-Resource and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec.4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan

    Ching-Min Hsieh & Ming-Jer Tsai

  3. Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan

    Been-Huang Chiang

Authors
  1. Lang-Dong Lin
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  2. Ching-Min Hsieh
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  3. Been-Huang Chiang
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  4. Ming-Jer Tsai
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Correspondence to Ming-Jer Tsai.

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Lin, LD., Hsieh, CM., Chiang, BH. et al. Modified atmosphere and humidity packages for conservation of paper antiques. J Wood Sci 53, 121–126 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-006-0830-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-006-0830-3

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