AIC 53rd Annual Meeting

Citrates in Paper Conservation
Conservators have employed numerous techniques and chemicals to remove discoloration and staining from paper objects. These have traditionally ranged from treatments that are viewed as less interventive, such as washing in alkaline water, to the use of aggressive oxidative lightening procedures. The pursuit of paper brightness is further complicated by the diverse and complex nature of staining. Beyond the stain itself, paper supports may have a wide variety of materials within their composition such as fillers, dyes, and optical brighteners. While other conservation specialties have utilized ammonium and sodium citrates as stain removers for decades, these are now beginning to see more widespread use in paper conservation. Citrates have shown promise as a tool to remove metallic impurities and staining while preserving the integrity of media and cellulose, however more information is desired.
This panel welcomes the submission of new research, treatment studies, and experimentation involving the use of citrates in paper conservation. We aim to design a program which includes technical studies and treatment

Possible topics could include, but are not limited to:
●    Aqueous overall or local treatment using citrates
●    Technical study of use with different types of media
●    Success or limitations when treating different kinds of staining
●    Analytical study of citrates effects on cellulose and or/media
● Use of citrates in combination with other stain reduction techniques