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Role of Cellulose Oxidation in the Yellowing of Ancient Paper

A. Mosca Conte, O. Pulci, A. Knapik, J. Bagniuk, R. Del Sole, J. Lojewska, and M. Missori
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 158301 – Published 9 April 2012; Erratum Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 169902 (2012)
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Abstract

The yellowing of paper on aging causes major aesthetic damages of cultural heritage. It is due to cellulose oxidation, a complex process with many possible products still to be clarified. By comparing ultraviolet-visible reflectance spectra of ancient and artificially aged modern papers with ab initio time-dependent density functional theory calculations, we identify and estimate the abundance of oxidized functional groups acting as chromophores and responsible of paper yellowing. This knowledge can be used to set up strategies and selective chemical treatments preventing paper yellowing.

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  • Received 21 October 2011
  • Corrected 12 April 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.158301

© 2012 American Physical Society

Corrections

12 April 2012

Erratum

Publisher’s Note: Role of Cellulose Oxidation in the Yellowing of Ancient Paper [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 158301 (2012)]

A. Mosca Conte, O. Pulci, A. Knapik, J. Bagniuk, R. Del Sole, J. Lojewska, and M. Missori
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 169902 (2012)

Synopsis

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Only on Paper

Published 9 April 2012

A study of ancient and modern papers reveals how cellulose reacts with light to discolor documents and art over time.

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Authors & Affiliations

A. Mosca Conte1, O. Pulci1,2, A. Knapik3, J. Bagniuk3, R. Del Sole1, J. Lojewska3, and M. Missori4,*

  • 1ETSF, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Rome, Italy
  • 2Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy
  • 3Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków, Poland
  • 4Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00016 Monterotondo Scalo (Rome), Italy

  • *Corresponding author. mauro.missori@isc.cnr.it

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 15 — 13 April 2012

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