RWTec-DeTox: Development of a Modular System Concept for the Decontamination of Art and Cultural Artefacts

The treatment of art and cultural artefacts with wood preservatives (HSMs) containing biocides such as DDT, lindane and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the past is now causing owners, conservationists and restorers major problems when dealing with these contaminated objects. The technologies used in practice to decontaminate these biocides or HSMs are still far from being fully developed, especially with regard to the degree of minimisation that can be achieved.

For this reason, a research project initiated by the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK) in conjunction with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) Leipzig (Head: Dr Ulf Roland), which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) under the name RWTec-Detox, aims to research and develop new methods for the detoxification of biocide-contaminated works of art.

The project is divided into six sub-projects, which are being carried out in co-operation with partners from universities, research institutes and industry. One of these sub-projects aims to develop extraction processes to reduce the biocide contamination of cultural artefacts made of wood and is being carried out independently by the Conservation and Restoration - Wood degree programme at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. The focus is on the development of simple processes for both deep and surface decontamination. The Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (BLfD) Munich, Department AV, could be won over for the investigations on surface decontamination, because extensive relevant experience is already available there.

The individual series of tests focussed on determining suitable solvents which, on the one hand, have a high dissolving capacity for the biocides mentioned and, on the other hand, leave the originality of the objects largely unaffected. Other important aspects for the selection of solvents are their industrial availability and their at least partial production from renewable raw materials. On the basis of the current status, it is becoming apparent that certain fuel additives largely fulfil the aforementioned requirements and offer starting points for the development of a practice-relevant detoxification technology.