Microwave fumigation

Sebastian Georgiew <sebastian [at] students__lincoln__ac__uk>

>I am currently researching the possibility to use microwave heat as
>a way to eradicate insects in wooden objects.

A short aside: some years ago a graduate student of mine did her
final project on microwave eradication of carpet beetle larvae in
textile samples (without zippers).  Although the technique was
successful, it required fairly long exposure times (minutes), no
doubt due to low moisture contents.  Intriguingly, she noted that
placing a tiny piece of damp blotter paper anywhere within the
chamber had the effect of reducing the exposure time to seconds.
Mind you, this wasn't rigorous science, but an interesting
observation nonetheless.

John Burke


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:43
                  Distributed: Monday, March 14, 2005
                       Message Id: cdl-18-43-003
                                  ***