Gels in Paper Conservation

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Both agarose and gellan gum are naturally-occurring polysaccharide gels used primarily in the biological sciences and food and cosmetic industries. Through this workshop, paper conservators will develop an understanding of the gels’ physical and chemical properties and how they can be tailored to suit a specific treatment. The workshop will begin with an introduction to the chemistry and mechanics of agarose and gellan gum followed by demonstrations of preparation and application. Significant time will be dedicated to hands-on work with expendable paper objects and mock-ups. Applications covered in the workshop will include both overall treatments—bathing, backing removal, and humidification—and local treatments—stain reduction, attachment removal, and solvent-based adhesive reduction—among others. There are many possible applications yet to be explored for these materials and this workshop is intended to provide an introduction to its current and potential uses.

Michelle Sullivan

Anne Maheux

  • Workshops are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not met 30 days prior to the event. FAIC will refund the full registration fee, but is not responsible for transportation, housing, loss of income, or other costs.
  • Emergency school closings in the community where the workshop is scheduled will cause a cancellation of that workshop. Every effort will be made to reschedule the event.
  • If a registrant can no longer attend the workshop, registration fees will be refunded minus a $25 processing fee when a cancellation request is made in writing and received by the FAIC office at least 30 days before the program start date.
  • We ask that anyone requiring Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations register his/her needs with FAIC at least 14 days before the workshop.
  • By attending an FAIC workshop, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for promotional purposes, marketing, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by FAIC and its affiliates and representatives. Images, photos, and/or videos may be used to promote similar AIC/FAIC events in the future, highlight the event, and exhibit the work of AIC/FAIC.

Funding for this program comes from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Additional funding comes from the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) Endowment for Professional Development, which was created by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is supported by donations from members of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and its friends. Courses are made possible with the assistance of many AIC members, but no AIC membership dues were used to create or present this course.

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Scholarships up to $1,000 to help defray costs for individual members of AIC who are U.S. residents to attend this workshop. Applications are due February 15, May 15, and September 15. Notification of awards are made six to eight weeks after the deadline. Click here for more information.

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Lecture Presentation PDFs
Lecture 1 - Introduction to Rigid Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Lecture 2 - Considering Gel Residues
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Lecture 3 - Gel Preparation Basics
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Lecture 4 - Modifying Physical Properties of Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Lecture 5 - Case Studies: Chemically Unmodified Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Lecture 6 - Modifying Chemical Properties of Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Lecture 7 - Case Studies: Chemically Modified Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Workshop Recipes and Exercises
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Pre-workshop Recommended Readings
Wet Treatments of Works of Art on Paper with Rigid Gellan Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Simonetta Iannuccelli and Silvia Sotgiu
Targeted Cleaning of Works on Paper: Rigid Polysaccharide Gels and Conductivity in Aqueous Solutions
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Amy Hughes and Michelle Sullivan 2016
Bibliography
Cross-disciplinary Uses for Gellan Gum in Conservation
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Anne Maheux
Bibliography
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
Gellan Gum - Selected Readings
Evaluation of Cleaning and Chemical Stabilization of Paper Treated with a Rigid Hydrogel of Gellan Gum by Means of Chemical and Physical Analyses
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Botti, L., A. Corazza, S. Iannuccelli, M. Placido, L. Residori, D. Ruggiero, S. Sotgiu, and L. Tireni. 2011. “Evaluation of Cleaning and Chemical Stabilization of Paper Treated with a Rigid Hydrogel of Gellan Gum by Means of Chemical and Physical Analyses,” ICOM-CC 16th Triennial Conference Lisbon, 19-23 September 2011: Preprints. pp. 1-11.
Analytical evaluation, by GC/MS, of gelatine removal from ancient papers induced by wet cleaning: A comparison between immersion treatment and application of rigid Gellan gum gel
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Casoli, A., C. Isca, S. De Iasio, L. Botti, S. Iannuccelli, L. Residori, D. Ruggiero, and S. Sotgiu. 2014. “Analytical evaluation, by GC/MS, of gelatine removal from ancient papers induced by wet cleaning: A comparison between immersion treatment and application of rigid Gellan gum gel,” Microchemical Journal 117(2014):61-67.
Wet treatments of works of art on paper with rigid Gellan gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Iannuccelli, S., S. Sotgiu. 2010. “Wet treatments of works of art on paper with rigid Gellan gels,” The Book and Paper Group Annual 29:25-39.
A new methodology for wet conservation treatments of graphic art on paper with a rigid polysaccharide gel of Gellan gum
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Iannuccelli, S. and S. Sotgiu. 2010. “A new methodology for wet conservation treatments of graphic art on paper with a rigid polysaccharide gel of Gellan gum,” Preprints of GDWG Interim Meeting ICOM-CC ‘Choices in Conservation practice versus Research’ October 6-8, 2010, ed L. Watteeuw, (Copenhagen: Copenhagen Royal Library), pp. 47-51.
Gellan hydrogel as a powerful tool in paper cleaning process: A detailed study
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Mazzuca C., L. Micheli, M. Carbone, F. Basoli, E. Cervelli, S. Iannuccelli, S. Sotgui, and A. Palleschi. 2014. “Gellan hydrogel as a powerful tool in paper cleaning process: A detailed study,” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 416(2014): 205–211.
Gellan gum as a material for local stain reduction
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Peranteau, A. 2013. Gellan gum as a material for local stain reduction. 9th North American Textile Conservation Conference. 72-85.
Il restauro e la protezione della carta mediante trattamento con gel di Gellano - Paper restoration and protection by using Gellan gum gel
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Placido, M. 2012 “Il restauro e la protezione della carta mediante trattamento con gel di Gellano - Paper restoration and protection by using Gellan gum gel,” PhD thesis in Scienze Applicate alla Protezione dell’Ambiente e dei Beni Culturali, University of Sapienza, Rome.
The conservation of two contemporary Chinese woodblock prints using Gellan gum
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Yip, V. 2015. The conservation of two contemporary Chinese woodblock prints using Gellan gum. IIC News in Conservation. 10-13.
Water holding capacity and microstructure of gellan gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Mao, R. J. Tang, and B. G. Swanson. 2001. “Water holding capacity and microstructure of gellan gels,” Carbohydrate Polymers 46(2001): 365-71.
Agarose and Agar - Selected Readings
Our recent findings on the functional properties of gellan gum
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Miyoshi, E. 2009. “Our recent findings on the functional properties of gellan gum,” Osaka University Knowledge Archive.
Testing the waters: new technical applications for the cleaning of acrylic paint films and paper supports
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Keynan, D. and A. Hughes. 2013. “Testing the waters: new technical applications for the cleaning of acrylic paint films and paper supports.” Book and Paper Group Annual 32(2013): 43-51.
Investigation of Foxing Reduction in Works on Paper with Enzymes and Chelators in Agarose Gels
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Sullivan, M. and K. Taira. 2014. “Investigation of Foxing Reduction in Works on Paper with Enzymes and Chelators in Agarose Gels.” Poster for the 2014 conference of the Association for North American Graduate Programs in Conservation.
New and current materials and approaches for localized cleaning in textile conservation
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Shaeffer, E. and J. Gardiner. 2013. “New and current materials and approaches for localized cleaning in textile conservation.” The Textile Specialty Group postprints of papers delivered at the Textile Subgroup Session: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works 23(2013): 109-24.
Testing the limits: The theoretical development and practical reality of a large-scale agarose treatment for a discolored Morris Louis
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Skelton, S., C. Rogge, and Z. V. Bomford. 2016. “Testing the limits: The theoretical development and practical reality of a large-scale agarose treatment for a discolored Morris Louis,” Studies in Conservation 61 (2016): S2-214-18.
New Approaches to Cleaning Works of Art on Paper and Photographs
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Sullivan, M., S. Brogdon-Grantham, K. Taira. 2014. Winterthur/University of Delaware Program New Approaches to Cleaning Works of Art on Paper and Photographs ANAGPIC.
Analysis of Agarose, Carbopol, and Laponite gel poultices in paper conservation
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Warda, J., I. Brückle, A. Bezúr, and D. Kushel. 2007. “Analysis of Agarose, Carbopol, and Laponite gel poultices in paper conservation.” Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 46(3): 263-79.