The chemistry of sodium dithionite and its use in conservation

Abstract

Sodium dithionite (SDT) is a reducing agent used in conservation, mainly for iron stain removal from both organic and inorganic substrates, and occasionally to treat corroded copper and silver artifacts. The purpose of this review is to provide information about the use and limitations of SDT, based on its solution chemistry and on the conservation literature. A discussion summarises how to use SDT effectively in conservation treatments and provides ideas for future work.