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Smart, environmentally friendly alternatives, i.e., frankincense and rice starch, are recommended for usage in modern paper conservation processes during the re-sizing process treatments. Different concentrations of frankincense and rice starch were applied to paper samples before and after ageing. Multiple analysis methods were performed to ensure the effectiveness of these materials. Promising results were found, but at varying degrees according to the type and concentration of the materials. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that the frankincense particles were completely absorbed into the cell walls after ageing. Results indicated that there was no considerable change in pH before and after treatment or ageing; the best results for decreasing the acidity utilized a treatment with a mixture of frankincense and rice starch in a 2 to 1 ratio (F2S1). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy illustrated an increased CH2 region and decreased OH stretching as a result of the bonds formed from the starch and crystals formed by frankincense, which agreed with the increased coating and strength of the paper fibers. The total color change values of all the treated samples after ageing were less than 4.5. Frankincense was found to provide strength in supporting wood fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three natural extracted oils from Citrus reticulata peels, C. aurantifolia leaves, and Linum usitatissimum (linseeds) were used as antifungal agents against the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum. The following main compounds (determined via gas chromatography--mass spectrometry) were found. The essential oil (EO) from C. aurantiifolia leaves contained limonene (22.96%), geranyl acetal (13.53%), and geraniol acetate (13.33%); the n-hexane oil from C. reticulata peels contained methyl-13-cyclopentyltridecanoate (16.74%), and D-limonene (16.06%); and linseed oil contained linoleic acid (27.36%), and oleic acid (19.01%). The inhibition of fungal growth significantly was reached 100% against A. flavus at all tested C. aurantifolia leaf EO concentrations and at a concentration of 2000 µL/mL for linseeds oil. The growth inhibition reached 100% against P. chrysogenum with C. aurantifolia leaf EO concentrations of 125-2000 µL/mL. Citrus reticulata peel EO had 100% growth inhibition of P. chrysogenum at concentrations of 2000 µL/mL and 1000 µL/mL, while linseeds oil had 100% growth inhibition at 2000 µL/mL. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that C. aurantifolia EO yielded the greatest thermal stability and color change protection to cotton pulp, while linseed oil was found to protect wood pulpbased and historical papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]