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Does menthol sourcing matter?

  • 1.  Does menthol sourcing matter?

    Posted 05-16-2023 07:01

    Hi, I am preparing to desalinate an object with delicate painted surfaces and am planning to use menthol as a temporary consolidant. I was wondering if anyone knew of any significant reason to not use inexpensive menthol crystal pellets sourced from sellers on amazon (which claim high purity rates) instead of the notably more expensive menthol crystal pellets from a science-grade chemical supplier (e.g. Aldrich or Thermo Scientific)? Has anyone experienced differences in product behavior? Are you aware of any problematic additives that might be found in the cheaper products? Thank you! 



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    Isabel Schneider
    Student
    UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
    Brooklyn NY
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