Episode 19: Greener Solvents with Rosie Grayburn and Gwen Fife
Finding safer alternatives to hazardous solvents not only has a positive impact on our planet's health, but also the health of conservation professionals who use the solvents. Very often the problem solving skills that conservators use in determining treatment options already includes a degree of 'sustainability' without perhaps giving it that label. In this episode, Roxy speaks with Rosie Grayburn and Gwen Fife about their project concerning 'greener' solvent use, specifically for removal of resins in paintings' conservation.
(For a similar, but different topic within this theme, please see our episode with Soraya Alcala and the MFA Houston's Greener Gels project with GREENART.)
While the term 'green' may refer to a 'bio-based' product this alone would not reflect a truly holistic perspective of sustainable practices. Gwen explains how there is a flexible model for weighing options for treatment might be 'greener' and how there's not one 'perfect' solvent, but that we should be viewing our choices through a lens of the complexity of the task and the context of our use. Like in our 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' episode, the most sustainable action may be one that uses what you already have to avoid unnecessary waste, but also considering that you might have multiple options in your chemical cabinet, Gwen recommends reviewing the Hazard Codes in Materials' Safety Data Sheets and the Greener Solvents Handbook to consider the pros and cons of using different materials.
The aim of developing sustainable practices isn't to restrict or regulate your choices, but rather create environments where conservators continue to have agency: by expanding our awareness to a multi-faceted and holistic perspective of sustainable chemical use, you'll be better able to make informed decisions for the object you're treating, your health, and the health of the planet.
Rosie highlights information from their 2024 survey concerning the field's engagement with solvent use and some of the surprises that data showcased to them. Comparing their results against a 1998 AIC survey on the same theme, they were able to see a decrease in use of specific solvents, an increase in PPE usage by individuals, and most strikingly, a severe lack of annual safety training and chemical hygiene training for a large percentage of our field. She also talks briefly about the project that followed that survey: its focus solvents and the partnership with Dow Chemical.
For listeners attending the AIC Annual Meeting this week, please check out the Rosie's talk about this project on Thursday, May 29th at 5pm CT. It's part of the Research and Technical Studies (RATS) session: "Developments in Safer Solvent Selections for the Removal of Synthetic Resins". As either a virtual or in-person attendee, you should be able to review the talk online after the conference as well.
Additionally, each annual meeting, the Health and Safety Committee offers a Respirator Fit Test workshop. For more information about the health and safety aspects of our field including information about the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication used in MSDS, please check out the H&S Committee's wiki, available in the show notes below.
Resources:
1. SiC website
2. 2024 AIC Survey Results on Solvent Use, AIC News Brief
3. SiC Greener Solvents Handbook, 2021
4. SiC Greener Solvents Database with Chem 21 Ratings
5. GoGreen EU
6. "Green" Definition
7. "An innovative methodology for testing and selecting greener solvents for varnishing paintings", 2025
8. "Deconstructing Incralac: A formulation study of acrylic coatings for the protection of outdoor bronze sculpture", 20179. AIC Health and Safety Committee Wiki