A new deep eutectic solvent-based green gel for the removal of polymeric coating from mural painting
Journal article, 2025
It is challenging to extend the species of deep eutectic solvent (DES) based gels, particularly in forming non-toxic polymer gels with good mechanical properties. In this study, we propose an eutectogel system for cleaning purposes in the field of culture heritage conservation. Green gels containing ChCl-EG-GVL-PVA and ChCl-EG-PVA are produced by combining choline chloride (ChCl), ethylene glycol (EG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with or without γ-valerolactone (GVL). The crosslinking of the gels is primarily formed by ChCl-EG and PVA through hydrogen bonding. The additional green solvent GVL is compatible with the gel composition and plays an important role in cleaning. The developed gels exhibit good mechanical properties and fine microstructures, making them easy to handle and suitable for cleaning cultural relics. Therefore, the gels have been tested on a mockup coated with Paraloid B72Ⓡ to examine their cleaning efficiency. Furthermore, the selected gel has been validated on a Yuan dynasty mural painting for the removal of aged acrylic coating. The results from both the mockup and the real case study demonstrate the effective cleaning efficiency of the ChCl-EG-GVL2-PVA2 gel and highlight its potential usefulness in the field of cultural heritage conservation.
Mural cleaning
Green gel
γ-Valerolactone
Paraloid B72 Ⓡ
Deep eutectic solvent
Author
Yiming Jia
Chongqing Culture Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Liangshuai Zhang
Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Kexin Tan
Shaanxi Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Shaohua Dong
Shaanxi Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Youzhou He
Chongqing Technology and Business University
Lin Ye
Chongqing Culture Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
Wenhua Zhao
Chongqing Culture Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
Laiyuan Gu
Chongqing Culture Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
Silvia Prati
University of Bologna
Jiujiang Bai
Chongqing Culture Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
Journal of Cultural Heritage
1296-2074 (ISSN)
Vol. 71 51-60Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
Physical Chemistry
DOI
10.1016/j.culher.2024.11.006