Founded by principals with strong backgrounds in wood and paper science as well as a proven track record in mass deacidification (MDA) technology, PROVENANCE is currently marketing spray applied deacidification treatments. In addition, Provenance is completing development of prototype hardware to treat manuscripts with alkaline oxides at their storage point, whether it’s a library, archive, or storage facility. The Provenance process does not involve the use of liquids or complex mechanical equipment, and can be conducted in a normal workroom environment. The existing manuscript treater is a precursor to a book treating family of equipment.
Patented Technology
These developments are responsive to the needs of conservators who have been struggling with the problems caused by acid deterioration of our written heritage since the 1950s. In spite of advances in digitization and preservation of printed content electronically, an overwhelming proportion of conservators and library users continue to stress the importance of preserving our written heritage as it was originally produced. They have indicated a growing need for cost-effective and easy-to-use MDA technology to preserve these original documents, whether in manuscript or bound form. In order to fill this technological gap, the originators of the Provenance venture have conducted extensive research and development work, culminating in the production of a new, dry MDA process. Provenance was granted a US Patent for this process in July 2001. back to top
Federally Funded Research
Commercialization efforts on this process are underway, with work partially supported by a Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grant from the US Department of Agriculture. Visit this USDA link for a project brief. After receiving an initial Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grant from the US Department of Agriculture in 2000, Provenance personnel embarked on development of technology that would lay the foundation for new cost-effective treatments for paper sheets and books. Despite numerous attempts to provide cost-effective, point of use mass deacidification technology, to date no process has emerged which can meet the minimum requirements for on-site treatment without high capital costs and complex mechanical systems. Only the Provenance process will shift the paradigm to provide a practical, cost-effective mechanism for treating written materials at the storage point. As such, we believe we are well-positioned to become an industry leader. As an adjunct to that work, the PaperSaver™ spray-applied products have been developed and are now available in a variety of application modes. These include familiar aerosol cans as well as propellant-free pump spray applicators. Bulk formulation PaperSaver products are also available for application using in-house spray equipment. back to top
