An eco-friendly evaluation of geraniol and CeO2NPs paper poultices for multifunctional paper manuscript conservation.

This study highlights an advanced conservation method for paper manuscripts using eco-friendly methods that are safe, non-toxic, accessible, and feasible. It evaluates geraniol, a plant-derived compound, and cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) loaded on Whatman paper poultices. A systematic investigation assessed their individual and combined performance on iron gall ink-treated paper samples. Various analyses were conducted, including USB microscopy, atomic force microscopy, colorimetry, pH measurements, X-ray diffraction analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy analysis. The study aims to determine the most effective approach for treating manuscripts damaged by fungal attacks, specifically Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terreus, while minimizing oxidative damage and preserving paper integrity.