A systematically evolved method for the effective use of essential oil blends for the structural maintenance of palm leaf manuscripts

Abstract

Palm leaf manuscripts (PLMs) are traditional carriers that contain a wealth of knowledge from different disciplines written by ancient scholars. However, PLMs are susceptible to deterioration due to moisture, light, fungi and bacteria. An existing method of applying essential oils (EOs) to preserve PLMs does not currently appear successful, hence the study presented here which aimed to maximise the preservation characteristics of six different EO blends, prepared and applied to palm leaves, which were then tested for stiffness, brightness and weight gain. The interpretation of the efficiency of EO blends in the preservation of PLMs is attributed to the compatibility between the oils due to the various constituents present in the individual EOs. FTIR spectroscopy was used to understand the compatibility of the oils in a blend and any EO blend rendering a higher stiffness and brightness was identified as having a high preservation performance. Based on the investigation, good compatibility is observed between the FTIR spectrum of Blend-E with its contributing EOs of citronella, neem and mustard. On the other hand, Blend-B exhibits poor preservation characteristics and incompatibility. The study concludes with the recommendation that Blend-E is suitable for the treatment and regular maintenance of PLMs as it can help reduce physical and chemical damage.

Résumé

« Une méthode systématiquement développée pour une utilisation efficace des mélanges d'huiles essentielles dans l'entretien structurel des manuscrits sur feuilles de palmier »

Les manuscrits sur feuilles de palmier (sur ôles) (« PLM ») sont des supports traditionnels qui contiennent des connaissances riches issues de différentes disciplines rédigées par des érudits anciens. Cependant, les PLM sont susceptibles de se détériorer en raison de l'humidité, de la lumière, des champignons et des bactéries. Une méthode existante d'application d'huiles essentielles (HE) pour préserver les PLM ne semble pas efficace actuellement, d'où l'étude présentée ici qui visait à optimiser les caractéristiques pour la conservation de six mélanges d'HE différents, préparés et appliqués sur des feuilles de palmier, dont on a testé ensuite la rigidité, la luminosité et le gain de poids. L'interprétation de l'efficacité des mélanges d'HE dans la préservation des PLM est attribuée à la compatibilité entre les huiles en raison des différents constituants présents dans les HE individuelles. La spectroscopie FTIR a été utilisée pour comprendre la compatibilité des huiles dans un mélange et tout mélange d'HE offrant une rigidité et une luminosité plus élevées a été identifié comme ayant des performances de conservation élevées. Sur la base de l’enquête, une bonne compatibilité est observée entre le spectre FTIR du mélange-E avec ses HE constitutives de citronnelle, de neem et de moutarde. D'autre part, le mélange-B présente de mauvaises caractéristiques de conservation et une incompatibilité. L'étude conclue en recommandant le mélange-E qui convient au traitement et à l'entretien régulier des PLM car il peut aider à réduire les dommages physiques et chimiques.

Zusammenfassung

„Eine systematisch entwickelte Methode für den effektiven Einsatz von ätherischen Ölmischungen zur Strukturerhaltung von Palmblattmanuskripten“

Palmblattmanuskripte (PLMs) sind traditionelle Träger, die eine Fülle von Wissen aus verschiedenen Disziplinen enthalten, die von historischen Gelehrten verfasst wurden. PLMs sind jedoch anfällig für Beschädigungen durch Feuchtigkeit, Licht, Pilzen und Bakterien. Eine bestehende Methode zur Anwendung ätherischer Öle (EO) zur Konservierung von PLM scheint derzeit nicht sehr erfolgreich zu sein. Daher zielt die hier vorgestellte Studie darauf ab, die Konservierungseigenschaften von sechs verschiedenen EO-Mischungen zu maximieren, die zubereitet und auf Palmblätter aufgetragen wurden, die dann auf Steifheit, Helligkeit und Gewichtszunahme getestet wurden. Die Interpretation der Effizienz von EO-Mischungen bei der Konservierung von PLMs wird auf die Kompatibilität zwischen den Ölen aufgrund der verschiedenen Bestandteile der einzelnen EOs zurückgeführt. FTIR-Spektroskopie wurde eingesetzt, um die Kompatibilität der Öle in einer Mischung zu untersuchen, und jede EO-Mischung, die eine höhere Steifigkeit und einen höheren Glanz hervorrief, wurde als besonders präservierend eingestuft. Die Untersuchung ergab eine gute Kompatibilität des FTIR-Spektrums von Blend-E mit den darin enthaltenen EOs von Citronella, Neem und Senf. Auf der anderen Seite zeigt Mischung B schlechte Konservierungseigenschaften und Inkompatibilität. Die Studie schließt mit der Empfehlung, dass Blend-E für die Behandlung und regelmäßige Pflege von PLMs geeignet ist, da es dazu beitragen kann, die physikalischen und chemischen Schäden zu minimieren

Resumen

“Un método desarrollado sistemáticamente para el uso efectivo de combinaciones de aceites esenciales para el mantenimiento estructural de manuscritos de hoja de palma”

Los manuscritos de hoja de palma (PLM) son soportes tradicionales que contienen una gran riqueza de conocimientos escritos por antiguos eruditos de diferentes disciplinas. Sin embargo, los PLM son susceptibles al deterioro debido a la humedad, la luz, los hongos y las bacterias. Los métodos de aplicación de aceites esenciales (AE) usados actualmente para preservar los PLM no parecen dar buenos resultados y por tanto, aquí se presenta este estudio. Su objetivo era maximizar las características de preservación de seis mezclas diferentes de AE, preparadas y aplicadas a hojas de palmera, a las que posteriormente se sometió a pruebas de rigidez, brillo y aumento de peso. La interpretación de la eficacia de las mezclas de AE en la conservación de los PLM se atribuye a la compatibilidad entre los aceites debido a los diversos constituyentes presentes en los AE individuales. Se utilizó la espectroscopia FTIR para comprender la compatibilidad de los aceites de una mezcla y se determinó que cualquier mezcla de aceites esenciales que ofreciera una mayor rigidez y brillo tenía un alto rendimiento de conservación. Según la investigación, se observa una buena compatibilidad entre el espectro FTIR de la mezcla E y los aceites esenciales de citronela, nim y mostaza que la componen. Por otro lado, la mezcla B muestra unas características de conservación deficientes e incompatibilidad. El estudio concluye con la recomendación de que la mezcla E es adecuada para el tratamiento y el mantenimiento regular de los PLM, ya que puede ayudar a reducir los daños físicos y químicos.

摘要

“关于有效使用混合精油以维护棕榈叶手稿结构的系统性进化方法”

棕榈叶手稿（PLM）是一种传统载体，其中包含古代学者撰写的不同学科的丰富知识。然而，由于潮湿、光、真菌和细菌的影响，棕榈叶手稿很容易变质。应用精油（EOs）来保存PLM的现有方法目前看来并不成功，因此，本研究旨在最大限度地提高六种不同精油混合物的保存特性。这些混合物经过制备后将应用于棕榈叶，随后叶子的硬度、亮度和增重情况将会被测试。精油混合物之所以能有效地保存棕榈叶，是因为每种精油不同成分间的相容性。作者使用了傅立叶变换红外光谱来了解混合精油的相容性。任何呈现较高硬度和亮度的混合精油被认为具有较高的保护性能。根据调查，混合油-E的傅立叶变换红外光谱与香茅、印度楝树和芥末的合成油之间具有良好的相容性。另一方面，混合物-B的保存性能较差，且不相容。研究总结建议，混合油-E适用于棕榈叶手稿的处理和定期维护，因为它有助于减少物理和化学伤

Keywords:

• essential oils
• essential oil blends
• palm leaf manuscripts
• preservation
• heritage material
• FTIR

Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous reviewers for their time reading our manuscript and making their thoughtful comments.

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arumugam Shanmugasundaram

Arumugam Shanmugasundaram is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya (University) Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. His research area is lubricant tribology and the development of sustainable lubricants. He is the author of over 70 publications including book chapters and has an h-index of 16. He has also published three patents. He is the Editor of two books, Advances in Mechanical Engineering (Trans Tech Publications) and Advanced Science, Engineering and Medicine (American Scientific Publishers) and he regularly reviews journal articles for ACS, Elsevier, Springer, SAGE, Wiley and Taylor & Francis.

Sivakumar Krishnamoorthy

Sivakumar Krishnamoorthy is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya (University) Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests are molecular chemistry and the chemistry of materials. He has more than 100 publications in journals and monographs.