Reduction of acidic pollutant gases inside showcases by the use of activated carbon adsorbers
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Activated carbon adsorbing materials were installed in a number of showcases with heritage objects belonging to English Heritage.The reduction of acetic plus formic acid concentration in air, which could be achieved by the installation of the different adsorbing materials, was investigated.The concentrations of the gases were measured before and after installation of the adsorbers.The reduction in the acetic plus formic acid concentration depended both on the activated carbon adsorbing material which was installed, and on the ventilation rate of the showcases.The installation of carbon cloth, rather than foam, and of foam rather than granulate, and lower ventilation rates gave larger % reduction.The adsorption rate to activated carbon cloth was found to be 1.4 times higher than to activated carbon foam, and 4.4 times higher than to activated carbon granulate.Where activated carbon cloth or foam was installed in showcases with a ventilation rate of two to five air exchanges per day, the reduction in the concentration was from 78 to 96%, to give levels below the recommended target level.Where activated carbon cloth was installed in a showcase with a very high air exchange of 29 per day the reduction was 44 %.Where activated carbon granulate was installed in showcases with air exchanges from four to six per day the reduction was from three to 28%.The expected ventilation dependent concentration of the acids inside the showcases, without and with the adsorbing materials installed, was found with a mass balance box model.From a practical point of view the activated carbon cloth was better to install than the foam, which was better to install than the granulate.Charcoal is easily lost from the adsorbing materials during working and mounting, leaving black particles and dust.
Authors: Terje Grøntoft, Paul Lankester, David Thickett
Language: English
Subfield: Conservation
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W2501458803