| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Hamad, R. ¹ (*) & Badwy, M. <sup>2

1</sup> Conservation dept, Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum Univ., Fayoum, Egypt.
² Ministry of tourism and antiques, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract:
The main objective of this research paper is to study the effect of lipase enzyme on the waxy materials mixed with the carbon particles resulting from the burning of the candles, which were difficult to remove in one of the archaeological glass candle stands in the Coptic Museum, Cairo, Egypt. The paper is divided into an experimental study for the use of the lipase enzyme in glass cleaning and an applied study on cleaning an archaeological glass candle stand. The experimental samples were cleaned using lipase enzyme from Burkholderia sp. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) was used to identify the components of the archaeological glass candle stand in the colorless and colored parts. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy analysis were used to identify the damaged products in the study sample. Then, the stereo microscope and USB digital microscope were employed to find out the efficacy of the lipase enzymes in the cleaning of experimental samples and the applied study. The results proved that there was a high efficacy in the dissolution of waxy fatty layers and the dissociation of carbon calcifications. USB digital microscopic images showed that lipase enzymes from Burkholderia sp. gave good results in cleaning the surface of the archaeological candle stand. Moreover, the enzyme was inhibited with the use of ethyl alcohol

Keywords:
Lipase Enzyme Burkholderia sp. Candle stand Archaeological glass Waxes

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