Fumigation is the ideal method in treating damaged archaeological paper using Ceratophyllum demersum L extract: A case study

Omar, Ali Mohamed; Taha, Ayman Salah; Mohamed, Amal A. A.; El Wekeel, Fatma M.

doi:10.21608/jbes.2019.370578

Fumigation is the ideal method in treating damaged archaeological paper using Ceratophyllum demersum L extract: A case study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Microbiology Department, Conservation center, Grand Egyptian museum, Egypt

² Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Aswan University, 81528, Egypt

³ Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt

⁴ Microbiology Department, Management Restoration, El menial palace museum, Egypt

10.21608/jbes.2019.370578

Abstract

All materials of cultural heritage, including paper degradation over time. Microbial contamination with fungi and
bacteria can cause a significant damage to old manuscripts as well as a health threat to the librarians. Most of the
biological damage is started in poor environmental conditions for storage and display. However, conservation slows
down the rate of microbial deterioration.
This work aimed to eliminate the effect of microbial deterioration on old manuscripts. The effect of the extract of
Ceratophyllum demersum L. Using the fumigation method was studied. The applied doses of the plant extract did not
cause any observable alterations or color changes to the old manuscripts. A dose of 200 ppm of the plant extract was the
efficient concentration in eliminating microbial growth. Brushing, sparing and fumigation methods were tested for
treating microbial deterioration of the old manuscripts. Fumigation using plant extract was found to be the ideal method
for its application on damaged archeological papers.

Keywords