Anoxia

Tamara Jaeger <tamarajaeger [at] hotmail__com> writes

>We are considering purchasing a large enclosure similar to the
>Rentokil "Bubble" for anoxic pest eradication treatments of objects
>and archival materials that cannot be frozen. I am interested in
>hearing what systems other institutions are using as well as their
>associated benefits and drawbacks.

I will try to inform you about the experience we have with some of
our customers--archives, libraries and museums--who are using anoxia
as part of their pest control procedures. This method is often used
for historic articles, mixed materials, and large quantities of
infested items.

Deciding whether to use an autoclave chamber or a plastic film
"chamber"/bubble:

    When systematic and continuous treatments are to be used, and
    when staff is not very aware of the procedures, automated
    autoclave chamber is the first choice.

    When large quantities of items need an emergency / quick
    intervention, when there are large shapes, when there is staff
    and more time available to assemble the plastic film bubble, a
    plastic film "chamber"/bubble is the first choice.

Choosing between inert gas bottles and generators:

    If time, speed, portability and cheapness priorities, then
    bottles are chosen; if long term economy and autonomy are more
    important, then investing in a generator is worthwhile. By
    acquiring an autoclave chamber, your first investment will be
    higher but maintenance will be cheaper. By choosing a plastic
    film chamber, your first investment will be lower, but on-going
    work will need more resources, namely in staff, training,
    treatment process monitoring, plastic film substitution and
    other consumables.

In the end, the main issue is to have total destruction of insects
(eggs, larvae and adults) with minimum physical stress to the
collections. That's why these institutions are using anoxia as the
main method to treat insect infestations in their collections. I
Hope this information helps you in deciding the better option to
eradicate insect infestations from your collections.

Rui Marto Fonseca
Product Manager
EXPM Lda. - Anoxia Disinfestations Systems
Integrated Pest Control Officers


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:23
                Distributed: Saturday, October 18, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-23-005
                                  ***