Ongoing development of a semi-quantitative protocol for assessing the suitability of commercial materials used to store or exhibit cellulose-based artworks

Emission of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from construction materials used to store or display artworks is a significant concern for cultural heritage stewards. In this study, a simple analytical protocol that evaluates the effect of off-gassed VOCs from construction materials on cellulose was developed. The study involved artificially aging Whatman (WT1) paper, a cellulose sensor which acted as a surrogate for cellulose-based artifacts in collections, in a sealed jar with nine commercially available construction materials at different aging conditions (60-80 degrees C for 14-28 days) to identify a viable aging protocol. High-pressure anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) measured the glucose produced during WT1 hydrolysis from water extracts of aged samples. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy non-invasively tracked changes in absorption in the 250-500 nm range. Tests showed 80 degrees C for 14 days to be the aging conditions to induce measurable degradation of the cellulose sensor when aged with construction materials. HPAEC-PAD and UV-Vis data were compared with two established paper degradation analytical methods, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and carbonyl content measurements, as well as to a diagnostic VOCs protocol, the Oddy test. HPAEC-PAD identified glucose before changes in molecular weight were identified via SEC, and UV-absorbance only moderately correlated with increasing carbonyl content. While additional tests are necessary prior the adoption of this protocol, results to date indicate the potential for the approach as a more rapid and unbiased alternative to the Oddy test for evaluating construction materials to be used near cellulosic collections.