J.CAC VOLUME 39 (2014)
The Effect of Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide Bleaching on the Copper Number of Paper
This preliminary study compared the oxidative damage to paper inflicted by ozone to that caused by another oxidative process commonly justified for use in conservation, bleaching. Paper samples were exposed to ozone at a concentration and duration comparable to that used by disaster remediation services for odour removal, and to conditions exceeding normal ozone treatment levels. Another set of samples was bleached with hydrogen peroxide. The degree of oxidation was characterized by determining the copper number of the paper before and after treatment. The results suggest that the degree of oxidation of cellulose produced by ozone at levels used for odour removal is comparable to that caused by mild oxidizing bleach.
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