The Use of Chelating Agents in Conservation Treatments

Summary This article gives an overview of the chemistry of four common chelating agents, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid). DPTA (diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid), NTA (nitrilotri-acetic acid), and HEDTA (N(hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetri-acetic acid) followed by sections on the selection of an appropriate chelating agent for conservation purposes and the application of chelating agents to paper conservation. This last section deals primarily with EDTA and includes information on the removal of iron from paper, use of EDTA in bleaching procedures, as well as inclusion of chelating agents in soap and detergent solutions.