A brief introduction

The Modular Cleaning Program is constantly evolving. The current pre-release version, 12.4, is available for download below. It includes all of the old favorites:

• The aqueous solution concentrates to rapidly build and prototype cleaning systems
• The old solvent mixing system emphasizing the difference of aliphatic and aromatic solutions in practice.
• Solvent gel based cleaning system that allows formulation of a number of stock gels that can be mixed together to form a solvent gel with any intermediate polarity.
• The aqueouscleaning system can be used in the simple mode or in a complex mode where the conductivity of the cleaning solution is controled.

New features include:

• Modeling the formulation of Pemulen and Xanthan emulsions using gel concentrates.
• A calculator for formulating solvent mixtures to replace more hazardous or less "green" solvents.
• Modeling of adding cosolvents to an aqueous system.
• A calculator that uses Hansen spheres to tailor solvent mixtures to remove one component effectively while minimizing the interaction with the substrate (artwork).

Under construction in this new version:

• Baglioni-stye microemulsion concentrates (in the solutions database) but not working in the cleaning system yet. These concentrates can be mixed in equal parts with MCP formulated aqueous solutions.
• A number of microemulsion phase diagrams can be navigated but are not integrated into the cleaning system.
• The ability to add two chelating agents (citric acid and DTPA) to an aqueous cleaning system and not require the presence of a pH buffer.

The Modular Cleaning Program schema consists of 21 interrelated database tables. The main database is the "Modular Cleaning Program" itself which combines components from the solutions database. The "solutions" database formulates concentrates and diluted solutions built from ingredients in the "components" database. The "solution sets" database builds the various solutions into sets for specific cleaning goals. The azeotropes database lists various published binary and ternary azeotropes found between solvents in the components database.

The Modular Cleaning Program and the use of concentrated stock solutions allows for the conservator to test a large range of aqueous mixtures in a short period of time. By testing far more cleaning options than one normally has the time to mix and test, we hope that treatments can continue to move toward more delicate and sensitive cleanings.

©2024 Chris Stavroudis