What causes paper to yellow over time?

Paper is made up of cellulous fibers that can oxidize over time resulting in a yellow shift in color. The yellowing in groundwood paper is more pronounced because of the presence of lignin, a brown material that bonds cellulous fibers and gives trees strength. UV light from sunlight or even indoor fluorescent lighting further accelerates the yellowing process. Papers with high lignin content include newsprint and coated groundwood publication grades. Lignin is removed during the chemical manufacturing process used for freesheet paper, making freesheet paper less prone to yellowing. For projects requiring the greatest resistance to yellowing, archival paper (acid free and pH neutral) should be used.

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