Disinfectant

Maria Troupkou <maria.troupkou [at] nationalarchives__gov__uk> writes

>In Conservation DistList Instance: 11:74 Friday, March 6, 1998,
>Cheryl Jackson <cherylj [at] aa__gov__au> writes
>
>>Can someone tell me the suitability of the disinfectant Alkyl
>>dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (a quaternary ammonium compound)
>>for use with paper based materials. ...

Benzalconium chloride is the listed ingredient in some disinfecting
wipes used for personal hygiene.  The wipes are available from
medical suppliers but I have not found a retail source for them or
the pure liquid solution. I have never used it in conservation, nor
seen any literature concerning it but it is a mild and very
effective agent for cleansing skin for first aid purposes.  I
imagine it would have have to be removed thoroughly and may prove to
be unsuitable for archival disinfection, but you may be onto a very
useful secondary purpose, with proper research.

Linda S. Roundhill
Art and Antiquities Conservation
18121 157th Ave NE
Woodinville, WA 98072
425-481-0720


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:8
                 Distributed: Wednesday, July 21, 2004
                        Message Id: cdl-18-8-013
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