Microwave drying

Re the discussion on using microwaves to treat damp or mouldy books.

A recent development for those working with dried flowers has been
the use of microwaves to speed up the drying process.  The flowers
are buried in a container of silica gel and microwaved. The
microwaves speed up the extraction of moisture and the silica gel
absorbs it, preventing the flowers from wilting in the steam.

Timing and power levels are given in craft books dealing with dried
flowers. Silica gel can also be regenerated in a microwave
apparently, though I have not tested this myself. Good luck,

Helena Jaeschke

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:39
                Distributed: Thursday, October 23, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-39-004
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