| Abstract: | Summaries. The problem of mass deacidification of books and papers is examined and the requirements for an ideal process are quoted. The mass deacidification processes currently available are reviewed. A liquid process based on magnesium methoxide and two gaseous processes based on morpholine or diethyl zinc appear closest to commercial status at this time and are described in some detail with their advantages and disadvantages. Overall, the diethyl zinc process, as developed at the Library of Congress, while it does require extraordinary safety precautions in the processing, appears to be the most promising in terms of permanence of the treatment and minimal side effects. Non-aqueous deacidification processes available to the individual conservator are also briefly discussed. |
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