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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]

The current research presents a new strategy for the treatment of degraded historical leather. Digital microscope, pH, FTIR and SEM analyses were used to evaluate the degradation of two leather bookbindings dated back to the fourteenth century. A conservation process was executed and included cleaning and the filling of holes according to a new recipe in the field of leather conservation containing leather powder, anhydrous cellulose, cellulose powder, acacia arabica, gelatin powder and clay nanoparticles. The new recipe was evaluated on modern leather samples before and after their accelerated ageing by monitoring any changes in their pH and colour, along with differential thermal analysis before the filler was applied to the historic leather. Results showed that the acidity of the leather remained in its natural state and the leather did not exhibit any oxidation nor hydrolysis. Moreover, the evaluation process for the new recipe suggested that it could be a promising material for the filling of losses to leather especially as it is thermally stable and shows consistency with the acidity of leather. Furthermore, the new fill material is easy to manipulate and shows no significant shrinkage or change to its colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on using analytical techniques for identifying the components of the manuscript to explain its deterioration process. The "Tafsir Al Khazen" manuscript, a rare manuscript of the seventeenth century, consists of paper sheets and leather bookbinding; it had been damaged by sewage water in the courtyard of the Al-Azhar mosque. Concerning measurements, we used visual assessment, pH measurements, isolation and identification of fungi, moisture content, investigation of the surface morphology by SEM, identification of pigment binder by FTIR - ATR, chemical testing of the paper components, X-ray diffraction and EDX analysis of ink and pigments X- ray diffraction analysis (XRD) for determining paper crystallinity. The results revealed that cotton fibres may have been used as raw material in the creation of paper. Alum, gelatine have been used as a sizing in paper manuscript. Goat skin was identified as the animal skin of the bookbinding, the black ink used was carbon ink, the pigments used on the paper were silver sulphide (HgS) for red colour, gold leaf for gold colour and natural ultramarine mixed with white lead for blue colour. Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were the most dominant fungi found on the manuscript. The pH of leather was higher than in normal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]