Adriana Ferreira (1) Conceição Casanova (2) Helena Nunes (1) Tânia Dias (2): The use of Rigid Gels and Albertina Compress in 18 Portuguese manuscripts

The poster presents three intervention methodologies applied to paper manuscripts from Livro de Consultas e Decretos da Rainha D. Maria I belonging to the Royal Chancellery of the Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa.

The choice of three methods for the removal of reinforcements had as its main concern the substitution of traditional aqueous methods which are not controllable by new intervention methodologies. These methods consist in the application of controlled humidity using techniques such as rigid gels and enzymatic poultice (Albertina Compress): the use of rigid gels Agar Agar and Gellan Gum was developed with the purpose of minimizing water absorption by the paper; the enzyme poultice release by capillary action alpha-amylases enzymes to the paper acting on the starch adhesive used in the application of reinforcements.

The comparison of the three method points to the use of rigid gels as the most suitable and safe method because it allows a gradual optimization of the application of water due to the viscosity of the gel, reducing the negative impact of water in paper. Also, it was difficult to estimate the amount of enzyme that remained in folios and which may or may not interact with the paper.

Keywords: Adhesives, Agar Agar, enzymes, gels, Gellan Gum, humidification, reinforcements, iron gall inks.

(1) Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa

(2) Faculdade de Ciências e Técnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa