Bio-Based Antifungal Coating for Paper and Books

Eugenol is a phenolic compound that fights off fungus by messing with its cell membranes. It basically causes the fungal cells to swell up and eventually burst.

In this coating solution, an organic solvent acts as a carrier, spreading the clove-derived eugenol to form a thin, protective film over the paper. The solvent doesn't damage the paper at all—it won't warp the pages or cause the ink to fade.

Case Studies: Successful Implementation

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University (Jul-Sep 2025)

We recently restored 122 volumes from the Department of Biology. The collection had sustained significant damage from a bookworm infestation, resulting in a heavy buildup of dust. Our treatment successfully revived the books, cleaning the pages and infusing them with a light, refreshing clove scent.   

Kasetsart University Sriracha Campus (Dec 2025)

We recently treated 40 large-format books at the Kasetsart University Library (Sriracha Campus).  This collaboration gave our interns a fresh perspective on book preservation, moving beyond traditional methods to a more effective way of caring for books.

Kasetsart University Bangkhen Campus (Dec 2025)

We treated about 70 books at Kasetsart University (Bangkhen campus) with our clove-based solution. A major goal is to see if this can replace traditional fumigation, which would be a huge plus for the library since they wouldn't have to move books off-site anymore