This will be an interesting thread, I'm looking forward to the group's responses. First of all, I must disclose that I sell materials and machines for anoxia. I'm for whatever works, but so much has to do with the facilities available. Heat works: I've heard of (and recommended) systems that work using plastic enclosures and sunlight, but also have seen the Thermo Lignum treatment machinery while in London. The machinery was quite sophisticated, and controlled by a computer link to a base office in Germany Cold works: I use a freezer myself for clothing that may be infested. I've seen reefer trucks used for large collections. While I share the hesitations for using freezing on composite materials, apparently the dimensional change is less severe than one might expect. Freezer good. Poison works: I have no direct experience with poisons, barring childhood where I chased mosquitos and flies around the room dosing them (and me) with Raid aerosol poison. (I still remember the smell) I no longer expose myself to nasty chemicals. CO2 chambers are relatively easy to build and control, but local regulations may be problematic. C02 is poisonous, and should be used with caution. As in anoxia chambers (see next), you must have dedicated space for a CO2 chamber, and this means you will need to have demand to keep the chamber busy. Anoxia works: Like heat and cold, anoxia can be applied in a number of methods. The easiest treatment method is to use a barrier film bag and some Ageless oxygen absorber. The bag can be reused, and the treatment is easy. One can do a more complex treatment using a nitrogen or argon purge. Purging works well for larger objects, or a series of small bags can be "chained" in series (works well for book collections). In many cases Ageless can be combined with a nitrogen purge to make the process easier to manage. Note that the provision of nitrogen or argon for purging (by tanks of compressed gas or using readily availble nitrogen generators) will call for a substantial investment of capital. Further, these systems need monitoring, which is not needed when Ageless alone is used.
Anoxic treatment chambers are available. If you have the money, the space, and the demand to keep the chamber busy it may make sense, but installing up a completely sealed room, permanently tying up the space and maintaining the nitrogen generator may be cost prohibitive. As I said, I look forward to comments on this. js Jerry Shiner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems 800 683 4696 www.keepsafe.ca <http://www.keepsafe.ca/> [email protected] Specializing in the design, procurement, and installation of environmental control systems in museums and archives. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eleanor Ramirez Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 9:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [pestlist] Hi! Good morning.. I Eleanor Ramirez, Managetmen Pest Control in General National Archives, Rep Dom, I know what the experience in the application of anoxia and its benefits and use of disinfection chamber. which is better? thanks -- Eleanor Ramirez.- Manejo Integrado de Plagas Bibliofagas. Archivo General de la Nación, R. D.
