明墓出土古书的消毒杀菌与除臭研究

Studies on disinfections and deodorization of the excavated books from the Ming tomb

为处理2001年上海宝山明墓出土的古书选用了乙醇作消毒剂。这批出土古书,书页之间相互粘连,散发出恶臭,这与书中粘着物有关。实验证明,用70％-75％乙醇处理2小时能杀灭书中的细菌和霉菌,而且能同时去除部分黏附在书页上的腐败物。但醇的溶解度有限,即使用无水乙醇粘连的书页亦无法分开。采用脂溶性的丙酮,经多次丙酮的洗涤去除了古书上黏附的全部有机类腐败物,书被逐页揭开,丙酮不但去除了部附的杂物,消除了其中的臭气,而且随着雨酮的最后挥发,也完成了古书脱水和脱水后书页的平整。

When a Ming tomb, about six hundred years ago, was excavated in Baoshan district of Shanghai in 2001, a pile of books found in this tomb. They were soaked in the water. When taken out of the tomb, it gave off an unbearable stink. They were stuck together and waterlogged. The abundance of inicroor- ganisms may occur after flooding. These books can be subjected to the infection of different microorganisms during the burying in soil. The bacteria also exist in the flooded book, besides fungi, since their development requires high moisture content. A few days later, the moulds grow flourishingly all over the books even though the cold storage adopted. In paper,these microorganisms will produce colored spots on the paper and decompose the cellulose intensely. So it is necessary to sanitize the books immediately, otherwise the paper may be destroyed by these microorganisms. They not only deteriorate the book but it is also dangerous to the health of men. Although there are a lot of biocides, there is not many that can be used to disinfect these excavated books. For the immediate killing of microorganisms, ethylene oxide seems to be the most suitable. It does not change the acidity of paper and not decrease its mechanical properties. hi recent years, the use of ethylene oxide has come into question due to the safety concern. Ethylene oxide is a potential carcinogen and its residue held by the lipids, fat, solid book after fumigation. Disinfecton with ethylene oxide of books requires expensive vacuum chamber, which is not available in our laboratory. Ethanol has also become an important chemical sanitizer among paper conservators in controlling and dealing with fungal attack during the last ten to fifteen years, but for its actual effectiveness, there are two different and even contradictory statements. The vitality of microorganisms on the excavated book was tested. The fragments of books treated twenty - four hours; and fungi obtained from the excavated book, which is flourishing re- cultured on medium,treating in 75% ethanol for 2,4,24h,and for testing the sterilization effect of ethanol. According to the experiment, ethanol can not only kill bacteria and fungal but also can remove some putrefied matter adhered to these books at same time. The ethanol as a disinfectant was selected. Although the partly putrefied matter adhered to these books can be dissolved in ethanol, the books are still stuck and the odor can not be removed. Due to the dissolution, all of the fatty ~ like organic matter can not be dissolved in ethanol. It is necessary to select the other suitable solvent. Acetone can dissolve fat, oils, waxes and resins etc. Using acetone treat the books time after time, all the adhering matter gradually dissolved. At last, the paper of these solid books detached from page to page. The dehydration of the books succeed along with volatilization of acetone at the same time. The books became smooth and no rumple. The unbearable stink dispelled from the books by cleaning with acetone. The residue of odor examined analyzed by gas chromatograph.