Old books: the best way to store them

THE biodeteriogens colonize the paper objects sourced from historical archives and libraries. The credit goes to volatile organic compounds of the essential oils with a high antimicrobial and insect repellent effect. They manage to control the degrading substances of paper.

In short, it has been shown that terpene crystals they are effective in protecting archival and book heritage. Previous experiments have made unsuccessful attempts. But now a study has found theantibacterial effectanti-fungal e insect repellent of some components of essential oils derived from plants.

The essential oils extracted from plants and the volatile organic compounds (Voc), their main components, form a class of substances with multiple biological properties, including a strong antibacterial, antifungal and insect repellent effect. However, the volatility of these substances compromises their long-term effectiveness, an aspect that is not negligible for the purpose of their use. The volatile organic compounds in essential oils, such as thymol, carvacrol and eugenol, are stabilized in crystalline networks of cyclodextrins and phenazine-based cocrystals, forming a crystalline solid. These formulations, obtained thanks to solvent-free methods, allow to exploit their antimicrobial activity as a valid adjuvant for the control of paper-degrading substances, such as powders that are easy to handle and suitable for the indirect contact treatment of paper articles. The compounds we studied could pave the way for their use as antimicrobials for use in archives and museums, often places of intense biodeteriogenic activity.

An added value in dealing with archival heritage.