Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup.
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1. RE: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
2. RE: Sustainable textile treatments
3. IAPesp seminar: Las recuperación de colecciones fotográficas tras una
inundación
4. APOYOnline 5th Regional Conference & Workshops!
5. Workshop "Museum practices: curation, assembly, production and education".
6. RE: The International Iron Gall Ink Meeting 2025: Towards Sustainable
Preservation (IGI2025) PORTUGAL
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1.From: Patricia Mestre
Posted: Thursday June 12, 2025 6:12 AM
Subject: RE: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
Message:
Good morning everyone,
After having read all the replies to the initial email very carefully, as well
as the associated links, I still do not understand whether the product D/2 can
(or cannot) be considered a biocidal product when used in conservation and
restoration actions, particularly on calcareous stone materials.
Could you help me clarify this doubt? If not, what are the alternatives?
Many thanks,
Patrícia Mestre
Conservator-Restorer
Portugal
------------------------------
Patricia Mestre
Director of Conservation and Restoration
ERA Arqueologia SA
Cruz Quebrada
Portugal
------------------------------
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2025 00:23
From: Judy Jacob
Subject: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
James' D/2 query has resulted in many interesting posts and I'd love to respond
to all of them. Instead, I will focus on the study cited and the claims made
on the website of D/2 Biological Solution™ (D/2).
>From 2004-2011, the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation
>Technology and Training (NCPTT) performed a series of tests to evaluate
>"commercially available cleaners for the removal of soiling and biological
>growth from Federally-issued headstones;" their report is provided as a link
>on D/2's website.
The "biological growth" of the study is better described as a subaerial biofilm
(SAB or "biofilm").
In the last two decades, our understanding of biofilms has greatly advanced and
I'm surprised that NCPTT's report is still used to guide present-day treatments
of gravestones. Much has changed since the study was undertaken, both in the
design of studies and in the methods used to visualize and characterize
biofilms.
Today, the report is most useful as a historical document. It records an
early-21st-century understanding of biofilms on marble gravestones, the notion
that biofilms can be removed with a product, and the means used by one
laboratory to characterize the behavior of biofilms.
What needs underscoring in James' post is the fact that the National Park
Service does not recommend products. The website for D/2 quotes Executive
Order 13287: ". . . The best-practice recommendations resulted in NCA's
[National Cemetery Association] determination to use the preferred cleaner, D/2
Biological Solution," and omits the words that follow: "or products with
similar active ingredients."
NCPTT's report states (page 3): "Biocidal cleaners which contain quaternary
ammonium compounds [quats], like D/2 Biological Solution manufactured by
Sunshine Makers, Enviro Klean® BioWash®, Modec MDF-500 or other cleaners, are
preferred products for cleaning marble headstones." These products are three
of many that contain quats.
As far as I know, no one product has been shown to outperform another and, in
the end, biofilms are outperforming all our removal attempts.
Judy
------------------------------
Judy Jacob
Senior Conservator
National Park Service
Northeast Region
Historic Architecture, Conservation, and Engineering Center
202-256-9152
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-27-2025 08:40
From: James Moss
Subject: Cleaning Gravestones with D/2 Biological Solution
Dear Colleagues,
I am a Cemetery Commissioner in my small Town (I am also a retired
Conservator of Clocks). Members of my Committee have suggested using a
commercial product called D2 to clean the gravestones of lichens and
accumulated atmospheric "dirt". I've looked at D2's WEB site and their product
SDS (mixture contains trisodium nitrilotriacetate and sodium metasilicate,
anhydrous which are considered hazardous chemicals to humans).
Their WEB site [ https://www.d2bio.com/ <https://www.d2bio.com/> ] claims the
following:
"National Parks Study Recommends D/2 for Government Headstone Cleaning" :
Researchers studied five different cleaners on stones located in five different
climates at locations across the United States. Microbiologists at Harvard
University evaluated samples for regrowth of microorganisms including bacteria,
fungi, and algae. D/2's quaternary ammonium solution came out on top! [Note:
any mention of ammonia or its relations immediately causes my antennae to arise
because it can cause Stress Corrosion Cracking of brass, a metal that 80% of
clocks are made with]
AND:
The National Cemetery Administration now uses D/2.
"The NCA entered into an agreement with the National Center for Preservation
Technology and Training, NPS, to evaluate marble cleaners in an effort to
minimize damage to historic headstones. The 3-phase study began in 2004 and was
completed in 2011. The best - practice recommendations resulted in NCA's
determination to use the preferred cleaner, D/2 Biological Solution..." (Page 3)
AND:
"No Other Solution is more trusted by conservators"
Cleaning of Stone is not my specialty, I have not been trained to do stone
treatments.
I know nothing about the effects of using the wrong chemical solutions or
procedures on stone. All that I am aware of is that stone is porous and
solutions can penetrate the stone and could cause long term degradation. I will
attempt to contact a Conservator whose specialty is the cleaning of stone. In
the meantime, I turn to you as a font of knowledge.....
My first question to you is:
Is using this commercial solution harmful to the stones that are commonly
used as cemetery markers such as slate, granite, and marble (aluminum and brass
are also used but as far as I know, D2 is not used to clean these metals)?
My second question is:
If D2 is not acceptable are there other safe methods that could be used by
non-Conservators or Citizen Volunteers that would not cause short or long term
harm to these objects?
Your insights, help, and guidance would be most appreciated.
Sincerely
Jim Moss,
Horological Conservator,
AIC PA retired
2.From: Howard Sutcliffe
Posted: Thursday June 12, 2025 7:54 AM
Subject: RE: Sustainable textile treatments
Message:
Hi Cecilia - I use Tygaflor as a casting bed for Lascaux adhesive on crepeline
and net.....I've been using the same 2m piece for close to 20 years at this
point. I know my class at the University of Slovenia bought a large length
from Amazon, so I'm sure you can do the same in the UK. For smaller pieces
Lakeland Plastics baking tray liners (same material, also UK based) are my go
to.
All best,
Howard
------------------------------
Howard Sutcliffe, Fellow, AIC
Principal Conservator
River Region Costume and Textile Conservation
Arley AL / Nashville TN
267 974 1913
------------------------------
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2025 10:39
From: Cecilia Oliver
Subject: Sustainable textile treatments
Hi Larry, thanks for your reply.
Did you find better solutions for single use materials like polythene and
blotting paper?
I'm particularly interested to find an alternative casting bed for my adhesives
as you can only use polythene once and its not a very sustainable material.
Would love to hear more about your treatment
Cecilia
------------------------------
Cecilia Oliver
Textile Conservator
Royal Collection Trust
Windsor
United Kingdom
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2025 06:11
From: Larry Edwards
Subject: Sustainable textile treatments
Hello Cecilia, my name is Larry Edwards and I am a textile conservator in
Australia. I have just finished a treatment using the materials you have listed
on a 120 year old jockey silk. We actually used the nylon net to protect
shattered silk as well as restore colour.
I will be in the UK in a couple of weeks for a visit if you would like to meet
up to discuss. Larry
------------------------------
Larry Edwards
Melbourne
Australia
Original Message:
Sent: 06-10-2025 10:18
From: Cecilia Oliver
Subject: Sustainable textile treatments
As part of the Royal Household sustainability initiative we have been looking
at greener alternatives to some of the materials we use in conservation. As
part of this, I am attempting a fully green treatment on a textile object. It
will involve many common textile conservation techniques: wet cleaning, dyeing,
adhesive support and some stitching.
In my current practice to undertake this treatment, I would use: polythene,
silk crepeline, adhesive (Lascaux), blotter, detergent, Gutterman threads,
nylon net and dyes.
I would like to hear whether any other conservators have had success with
alternative methods and materials and any research that is being undertaken at
the moment.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and hope we can share some useful
resources.
Thank you
------------------------------
Cecilia Oliver
Textile Conservator
Royal Collection Trust
Windsor
United Kingdom
------------------------------
3.From: James Black
Posted: Thursday June 12, 2025 7:54 AM
Subject: IAPesp seminar: Las recuperación de colecciones fotográficas tras una
inundación
Message:
Date: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Tutor: Rosina Herrera
Price: £10.00
Platform: Zoom
Language: Spanish
Time:
Madrid: 5pm
Buenos Aires: 12pm (midday)
Santiago de Chile: 11am
Lima: 10am
Mexico City: 9am
Habrá una presentación de 55 minutos seguida por una discusión de 15 minutos.
Por favor regístrarse en Eventbrite
<https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1348092102769?aff=oddtdtcreator>
Este seminario teórico es una oportunidad para aprender cómo actuar ante una
inundación y prevenir daños en colecciones fotográficas. A lo largo del curso,
el alumno adquirirá conocimientos clave sobre cómo rescatar, limpiar y
conservar fotografías afectadas por el agua, a partir de casos reales ocurridos
tras la DANA que azotó Valencia el 29 de octubre de 2024.
Exploraremos métodos seguros para secar y estabilizar fotografías mojadas,
técnicas de limpieza, lavado y alisado, así como recomendaciones para
digitalizar y conservar adecuadamente las imágenes recuperadas. También
hablaremos de qué hacer —y qué evitar— en situaciones de emergencia.
Este curso está dirigido a restauradores, fotógrafos, archiveros,
bibliotecarios, historiadores, custodios de colecciones y cualquier persona
interesada en estar preparada para proteger y rescatar materiales fotográficos
en situaciones críticas.
Rosina Herrera estudió Conservación de Papel e Historia del Arte antes de
recibir formación como Conservadora de Fotografías en el Museo George Eastman y
el Image Permanence Institute, en Rochester (NY, USA). Rosina ha trabajado en
el Archivo General de la Administración, el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de
Madrid, la Hispanic Society, el MoMA de Nueva York y el Rijksmuseum de
Ámsterdam (Países Bajos). También ha impartido cursos y clases de máster en
España, Inglaterra, Portugal, Páises Bajos, Taiwan y México y ha escrito un
manual sobre Conservación y restauración de fotografía (Síntesis: 2022).
Actualmente trabaja como freelance y coordina uno de los laboratorios de
campaña creados por la Universidad de Valencia en las zonas afectadas por la
inundación sufrida el pasado mes de octubre en la Comunidad Valenciana (España).
More information:
https://academicprojects.co.uk/courses/las-recuperacion-de-colecciones-fotograficas-tras-una-inundacion/
------------------------------
James Black
Co-ordinator
International Academic Projects
London
www.academicprojects.co.uk
------------------------------
4.From: Gabriela Lúcio de Sousa
Posted: Thursday June 12, 2025 1:02 PM
Subject: APOYOnline 5th Regional Conference & Workshops!
Message:
There's still time to register for APOYOnline's 5th Regional Conference!
APOYOnline 5th Regional Conference: Sustainable Connections for Cultural
Heritage
Panama City, Panama & Virtually
June 30 to July 4, 2025
APOYOnline - the Association for Heritage Preservation of the Americas, Inc.,
is proud to host our upcoming 5th Regional Conference & Workshops from June
30th to July 4th, 2025, with the theme "Sustainable Connections for Cultural
Heritage." The in-person event will take place at the Ciudad del Saber
Conference Center in beautiful and fascinating Panama City, Panama. The
conference will also be presented online and is being co-organized with the
Museo del Canal and other regional institutions in Panama.
Nearly 170 authors from 24 countries will present over 70 papers and 50 posters
during the event concerning the following topics:
Climate Change & Collections at Risk
Community Engagement & Connections
Innovation & Trends
Education & Training
Notably, over 60% of participants in the conference are students and emerging
professionals attending an APOYOnline event for the first time. Thanks to our
exceedingly generous sponsors, APOYOnline is providing stipends to each author
to support their attendance both in person and online.
See APOYOnline's website for more information and to register for the
conference. See you soon in Panama and online!
------------------------------
Gabriela Lúcio de Sousa
PhD Student, Museology and Patrimony
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
------------------------------
5.From: Gabriela Lúcio de Sousa
Posted: Thursday June 12, 2025 1:02 PM
Subject: Workshop "Museum practices: curation, assembly, production and
education".
Message:
Dear all,
Registration is open for a new edition of the workshop "Museum practices:
curation, assembly, production and education"! Information and registration are
available at the link:
https://www.sympla.com.br/evento-online/praticas-museologicas-curadoria-montagem-producao-e-educativo/2985478
😊
[Important: the workshop will be taught entirely in Portuguese]
------------------------------
Gabriela Lúcio de Sousa
PhD Student, Museology and Patrimony
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
------------------------------
6.From: Valeria Orlandini
Posted: Thursday June 12, 2025 9:21 PM
Subject: RE: The International Iron Gall Ink Meeting 2025: Towards Sustainable
Preservation (IGI2025) PORTUGAL
Message:
Dear Colleagues,
This year, we are celebrating 30 years of Ca Phy/ Ca bicarbonate aqueous
treatment created by Dr. Han Neevel, chemist/ conservation scientist (retired)
from the RCE, Amsterdam, NL.
Neevel, Johan G. 1995. "Phytate: a Potential Conservation Agent for the
Treatment of Ink Corrosion Caused by Irongall Inks." Restaurator 16(3): 143-160.
Also, 20 years of the Fe (II) ions test introduced by H. Neevel and B.
Reissland in 2005 in the field.
Neevel, Johan G., and Birgit Reissland. 2005. "Bathophenanthroline indicator
paper: Development of a new test for iron ions.
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341822346_Bathophenanthroline_Indicator_Paper_Development_of_a_new_test_for_iron_ions>"
Papier Restaurierung 6 (1): 28–36.
Neevel, Johan G. 2009. "Application issues of the bathophenanthroline test for
iron (II) ions <https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/rest/30/1-2/html>"
Restaurator 30.
BPG Iron Gall Ink - MediaWiki
<https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/BPG_Iron_Gall_Ink>
Ekaterina Pasnak from Norway wrote: "in the mood of sharing, I would like to
provide you these links of the articles recently published":
E. Pasnak, J. Malešič, S. Sequeira. Improving access: Multi-analytical survey
of the Norwegian Sea trade archive to establish storage conditions,
digitisation priorities and conservation treatments. Journal of Cultural
Heritage, Volume 68
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-cultural-heritage/vol/68/suppl/C>,
July–August 2024, VSI: Technart selected papers, pages 47-58
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.05.001
<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.05.001>
S.O. Sequeira, E. Pasnak, C. Viegas, B. Gomes, M. Dias, R. Cervantes, P. Pena,
M. Twarużek, R. Kosicki, S. Viegas, L. Aranha Caetano, M.J. Penetra, I. Silva,
A.T. Caldeira, C. Pinheiro
Microbial assessment in a rare Norwegian book collection: a One Health approach
to cultural heritage. Microorganisms 2024, Vol.12, issue 6
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/6/1215
<https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/6/1215>
Pasnak, E., Stationery bindings from the Norwegian Sea Trade Archive
(Nordlandshandelarkiv) in the University Library of Bergen. From: "Care and
Conservation of Manuscripts 19. Proceedings of the Nineteenth International
Seminar held at the University of Copenhagen". Ed. M.J.Driscoll. Museum
Tusculanum Press 2025, pp.361-386
<https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/19789/1/CC19-offprint-kobel.pdf>
<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwif5di_j-qNAxXMGVkFHfRJLK8QFnoECBoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmural.maynoothuniversity.ie%2Fid%2Feprint%2F19789%2F1%2FCC19-offprint-kobel.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0SzGoacbAsIJlvJ4MdXeqj&opi=89978449>CC19-offprint-kobel.pdf
<https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/19789/1/CC19-offprint-kobel.pdf>
There is more to come...for those colleagues interested on ink corrosion.
------------------------------
Valeria Orlandini
Conservator of Works on Paper and Photographic Materials
Chevy Chase MD
(301) 657-2682
------------------------------
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2025 16:08
From: Valeria Orlandini
Subject: The International Iron Gall Ink Meeting 2025: Towards Sustainable
Preservation (IGI2025) PORTUGAL
The International Iron Gall Ink Meeting 2025: Towards Sustainable Preservation
(IGI2025) was held on May 7-9, 2025 in Caparica Portugal.Salvaging Iron Gall
Ink-Based Collections from Ink Corrosion, Fungal Attack, and Climate Change:
Considering the Past and the Futurehttps://sites.fct.unl.pt/igi2025
<https://sites.fct.unl.pt/igi2025> The following main topics were discussed:
Innovative Methodologies for The Preservation of Heritage Written with Iron
Gall Inks
Degradation Mechanisms of Iron Gall Inks
Development/ Evaluation of Conservation Treatments for Iron Gall Inked Objects
Assessment Surveys of Iron Gall Inks Documents
Case StudiesOrganizing Committee:Maria Joao Melo Silvia Oliveira Sequeira
Natercia Teixeira Vanessa Otero Paula NabaisRafael Javier Diaz Hidalgo Malihe
SotoudehConservation is a multidisciplinary subject, which provides a rich
field for research. As a result, it is not only possible, but also valuable and
rewarding, to take a single material such as iron gall ink and consider its
many characteristics from a variety of viewpoints.Although there have been many
conferences, courses and publications focusing on specific aspects of ink gall
ink, both the meetings hosted by the University of Northumbria Conservation of
Fine Art Programme in September 2000 by Jean E. Brown as well as the one
organized by (the late) John (J.B.G.A.) Havermans, Ph.D. from TNO, Build
Environment and Geosciences in Delft, The Netherlands - Metals in Paper (MIP)
EU Thematic Network - 2nd Iron Gall Ink Meeting 2006 in Newcastle upon Tyne, in
the United Kingdom provided a holistic overview of the material through
manufacture, application, degradation, history and conservation treatments to
aspects of multiple investigations.It can be all too easy for a conservator or
a conservation scientist to become exclusively focused on the degradation
instigated by an inherently destructive material, such as iron gall ink.
However it is valuable to reflect on why such a material continued to be so
widely and extensively used over such a long period. This is particularly
puzzling when it is remembered that its destructive characteristics were
clearly recognized at a very early date.It became clear that iron gall ink has
exceptional qualities, which surpass those of other inks. It has a capacity for
refinement and rhythm, which in the hands of an artist, can result in an object
that has vitality, is dynamic as well as enlightening. It is these intrinsic
qualities of iron gall ink that made contemporary artists and inscribers
continue to use it. Thus, conservators are very concerned to identify the
components of the elements present in these inks and preserve these objects
for posterity.During the 'International Iron Gall Ink Meeting 2025' last month
at the NOVA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | NOVA FCT in Caparica we spent
many hours discussing extensively about metal-tannic inks, analyses, treatments
and the multiple recipes available among others. These workshops were
offered:WS1 - "The manufacture of Iron Gall Inks: retracing past recipes" by
Natércia Teixeira, Rafael Javier Díaz Hidalgo and Malihe Sotoudeh WS2 - "Making
Iron Gall Inks with or without vitriols: All you need is soluble iron" by
Birgit Reissland, Véronique Rouchon and Ira Rabin WS3 - "Persian Medieval Inks,
Dyes and Sizings on Paper Supports Based on Taimurid to Qajar Historical
Recipes" by Sadra Zekrgoo and Mandana Barkeshli WS4 - "Is it an iron gall ink?
- Different approaches and challenges in IGI identification" by Paula Nabais
and Sílvia SequeiraThere is more to come...for those colleagues
interested on ink corrosion.
------------------------------
Valeria Orlandini
Conservator of Works on Paper and Photographic Materials
Chevy Chase MD
(301) 657-2682
------------------------------
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