MASS DEACIDIFICATION OF ARCHIVAL MATERIALS USING DIETHYL ZINC

The Dutch Slate Archives decided to use the diethyl zinc process to de acidify part of their collection consisting of 81 km of records dating From 1840 to 1950 on acidic paper. The TNO Centre for Paper and Board Research was therefore commissioned to control this program. TNO stan ds for the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research. During the deacidification of 4 batches of the ''Colonial Mail Rapport'', ref erence rest materials were included for testing the quality and reprod ucibility of the diethyl zinc deacidification treatment. It was conclu ded that homogeneous deacidification occurred with the diethyl zinc pr ocess and that the treatment protects deacidified archive papers towar ds such air pollutants as SO2 and NO2. The alkaline reserve can be see n as the most important factor in protecting the paper against acid at tack. No preselection is necessary when only paper is inside the archi val boxes and no bad odor was found. The reproducibility of the diethy l zinc treatment was very good, and an effective amount of alkaline co mpounds was brought into the paper. After the treatment, the performan ce of the paper can be affected slightly due to the change in the mois ture content, but this improves after sufficient storage time. The aut hors conclude that diethyl zinc should be considered as a standard for the deacidification of archival papers.