A Comparison of the Use of Sodium Metabisulfite and Sodium Dithionite for Removing Rust Stains from Paper

Presented at the Book and Paper Group Session, AIC’s 39th Annual Meeting, May 31–June 3, 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. shown, in the experiment presented in this paper, to have significant success in removing rust from paper. The intent of the experiment described in this paper was to compare both reducing agents’ ability to reduce and eliminate rust stains from paper. Qualitative results derived from this experiment reveal the benefits and limitations of using each chemical for rust removal from paper. Sodium Dithionite, as expected, proved to be the more effective chemical for removing heavy rust deposits quickly, but its use was found to be significantly limited by cost and safety. Sodium Metabisulfite proved to be significantly safer, lower in cost, and easier to obtain, but was only effective treating light-to-medium rust deposits and required far more time for treatment.