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This paper aims to identify the most common fungal species that grow on paper manuscripts and cause bio-deterioration. It also detects the impact of additive materials on fungal degrading and builds a wide database. Thus, it helps conservators understand this phenomenon.

In total, 15 samples were collected from different paper manuscripts suffering from fungi. The achievement of the study objectives depends on using a variety of analyzes, such as a microbiological study, which indicated that three main fungi grew on the paper samples. Then, a digital microscope and an environmental scanning electron microscope were used to detect the effect of fungi on paper fibers. Fourier transform infrared microscopy was used to identify the binding medium and the X-ray diffraction method was used to measure the crystallinity index of cellulose of the paper samples.

Arabic gum was used as a binder medium with the samples. Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus Fumigatus and Aspergillus Clavatus were the most common fungal species that grew on the Qur’an papers under investigation. They also caused much common damage to the paper samples. The results of the analyzes also showed that the highest crystallinity index of cellulose was in the samples that contained the lowest rate of fungal growth.

This paper highlights the relationship between fungal degradation and the multi-component nature of paper manuscripts. It builds a wide database that correlates the composition and the degradation of the Qur’an papers.

This study aims to develop a way to inhibit fungal attacks on paper manuscripts, as fungi are a major deterioration factor that causes aesthetic appearance and fragility degradation using fungal inhibitors including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs).

In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) doped with AgNPs (TiO₂NPs@AgNPs) were produced and combined with cellulose acetate solution before membrane production. Thus, two distinct cellulose acetate (CA) membranes were created: AgNPs-loaded CA membranes (CAAg) and TiO₂NPs@AgNPs-loaded CA membranes (CATAg). The fabricated membrane was applied to paper samples using cotton fibers containing ink or free of ink.

The findings revealed that these nanoparticles (AgNPs and TiO₂NPs@AgNPs) have a distinct shape, small size and high stability. Furthermore, once loaded onto the CA membrane, such nanoparticles might suppress fungal assault on the surface of paper samples. According to the analysis and the acquired results, the CAAg membrane was the best material to use without affecting the paper’s properties.

This paper provides a novel approach for inhibiting the fungal attacks on paper manuscripts without affecting the paper properties by using membranes from cellulose acetate loaded onto nanoparticles as inhibitors.