Regeneration of PEG solutions used for waterlogged wood consolidation
Résumé
Waterlogged wood is frequently stabilized using a Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) treatment solution, however issues with contamination frequently dictate that the solution is discarded after use. Our approach is original: instead of adding exogenous substances to control contamination (biocides), we explored the possibility of removing the contamination products. By combining three approaches we could permanently regenerate PEG solutions. For biological contaminants, such as bacteria and yeast, ultra violet lamps were used to permanently disinfect aqueous solutions. Micro-filtration techniques borrowed from the agro-food industrial helped to remove suspended matters and indirectly contributed to disinfection. The system was completed using air bubbling, which permitted the elimination of anaerobic bacteria. PEG degradation was monitored monthly using FTIR and with HPLC every six months. No changes have been noted for over the 10 past years. The PEG treatment process is efficient, from both an environmental and economic point of view. We have not needed to purchase PEG for five years despite successive large-scale conservation treatments, for example the Arles Rhône 3, Antibes, Lyon shipwrecks, no PEG has required discarding.
Domaines
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