[Nhcoll-l] Phthalic acid

[Clare Kim]

Hello NHCOLL-L

I have a question I like to post on NHCOLL-L.
Below is my question with 5 images.
Let me know if you have any question.
Thank you.

Kind regards,
Clare Kim
Digitisation Conservator | Collection Care and Conservation
Australian Museum Research Institute
Australian Museum  1 William Street Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
T 61 2 9320 6010 M 61 413 904 865
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Unknown light-brown coloured particles were found sitting inside the old Entomology drawers. The particles are fine and easily transported by air when lifting the lid from the drawer. They are structured in delicate form of white coloured crystals intertwined in few different types of dirt, mostly in colour brown (Figure 4). The particles were analysed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and it appears to be phthalic acid (Figure 5). Phthalic acid is commonly produced by the catalytic oxidation of naphthalene.

Has anyone seen/experienced this type of acid in their collections? Is phthalic acid a reaction from naphthalene and cork/wood? According to safety datasheet, phthalic acid could cause skin irritation, serious eye damage and may cause respiratory irritation. How are other institutions dealing with phthalic acid? The location of acid is randomly spread across the drawer (Figure 1) and often entomology specimens are in fragile condition. Other than wearing appropriate PPE, does anyone have a method for its safe removal?

Thank you.



[cid:image002.jpg at 01D6673B.97E53280] [cid:image003.jpg at 01D6673B.97E53280]

Figure 1-2 (Left to Right): Location of particles in the drawer (example); Detail image of particles



[cid:image004.jpg at 01D6673B.97E53280][cid:image005.jpg at 01D6673B.97E53280]

Figure 3-4: Microscope images of sampled particles from Entomology drawer 40x magnification (left) & 160x magnification (right)





[cid:image006.jpg at 01D6673B.97E53280]

Figure 5: Comparison of known spectra of phthalic acid (bottom, in blue) with spectra of unknown particles from Entomology collection drawer (top, in red).





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