[Milsurplus] Saving Paper from Mold

[David Ross]

Dave & the gang -

  Freezing the paper will kill dust mites but will not affect the mold 
or mold spores.

  According to Northeast Document Conservation Center, ethylene oxide 
will kill active mold & mold spores:
<http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/3Emergency_Management/08SalvageMoldyBooks.php>

  Wikipedia says that 'Ethylene oxide is toxic by inhalation' so it may 
not be a do-it-yourself operation:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene_oxide>

sorry to hear about the loss Dave, 73 & good luck
Dave Ross    N7EPI




David Stinson wrote:
> The roof leaked.  Some irreplaceable books and papers got wet, then molded.
> I've dried them completely and brushed away all the mold a fine brush can 
> remove.
> While some pages were lost beyond recovery, most are still readable.
> I'm scanning the recoverable materials into digital form so they won't be 
> lost.
> The dry originals I intend to seal in plastic, moisture-proof bags.
> This is only delaying the inevitable; without some kind of treatment,
> even in a dry environment, the mold will eventually destroy them.
> Is there anything -dry- I can put in the bags that will either kill the 
> residual mold,
> or prevent it from further growth?  Barring that- anyone know someone
> with a little Co-balt  60 who can irradiate them ;-) ?
> Thanks.
> Dave S.