The preservation methods of books/paper materials vary according to the importance of books. The general preservation method is to keep it in a low temperature, dark and relatively dry environment. But the preservation of some important books and paper documents needs special treatment.

The main component of paper is cellulose, and the deterioration of paper is mainly the deterioration of cellulose.

Cellulose can undergo a hydrolysis reaction to produce hydrolyzed cellulose. Because the molecular chain of hydrolyzed cellulose is shorter than cellulose, the shorter the cellulose molecule, the easier it is for paper to be crushed. At room temperature, this reaction is very slow, but in the presence of acid, the hydrolysis reaction speed is obviously accelerated. The acid in paper mainly comes from the residual sulfuric acid in paper, the acidic gas in the air and the acidic products in the process of paper decay. Cellulose can also undergo oxidation reaction and become oxidized cellulose with short molecular chain. Under the conditions of light, heat and humidity, the speed of oxidation reaction is accelerated, so storing books in a low temperature, dark and relatively dry environment can largely avoid oxidation reaction. However, how to avoid hydrolysis reaction, that is, how to remove acid from cellulose without damaging paper and handwriting, has become a difficult problem in book preservation.

Diethylzinc [Zn(C2H5)2] is used in the United States to protect 9000 books in the Library of Congress. Diethyl zinc method is also a better one at present.

The specific method is: put the books to be processed in a closed big box, first pump out the air in the box, and then fill it with low-pressure nitrogen. It is very important to remove oxygen from the box because diethyl zinc is flammable.

Zn(C2 H5)2(g)+7o 2(g)= = ZnO(s)+4o 2(g)+5H2O(l)

Subsequently, diethyl zinc vapor is introduced into the box to diffuse into the paper of the book, and it reacts with H+ in the paper as follows:

Zn(C2H5)2+2H+==Zn2++2C2H6

Diethylzinc can also react with water in paper to produce ZnO;

Zn(C2H5)2+H2O==ZnO+2C2H6

ZnO is a weakly alkaline oxide, and its existence can prevent paper from pantothenic acid. After the reaction is completed, excess diethyl zinc and ethane gas are pumped out, and then the box is cleaned with nitrogen and air. It takes about 3~5 days to process a batch of books in this way. Although the procedure is troublesome, it can save a lot of precious books and materials.

This is the processing of paper originals of books that need special protection, which is basically not used by ordinary families, because now the technology is developed, and precious materials can be directly scanned in high definition and then made into pdf.

I hope it helps you!

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