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 PAN International Website |
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Cooking
out timber bugs
New
technology based on the use of heat to destroy pest infestations in organic
materials has been developed in Germany and has recently been introduced
commercially to the UK. The system, known as Thermo Lignum is designed for use
on wood, textiles, books and papers, leather and other materials and objects
which may suffer from pest attacks.
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Thermo Lignum's chamber in which temperature, humidity and atmosphere can be controlled |
The
current technology uses a chamber in which temperature, humidity and atmosphere
can he controlled. Objects are placed in the chamber for periods of up to 48
hours at temperatures of between 38 and 55°C and at constant humidity. Recent
developments allow for an increase in atmospheric nitrogen which allows the
lower temperatures to be used. In the UK, the company plans to establish a
national network of chambers.
The Thermo Lignum system has advantages over chemical treatments including the
absence of any toxic materials, no damage is caused to materials, and no post
treatment delay is incurred by the need to ventilate.
Other pest eradication systems have used carbon dioxide to kill insects, but
this has been found to cause adverse reactions in some materials such as gold
and silver which turn black. Using CO2 is also an extremely slow process which
cab take many days.
Freezing has also been proposed as a viable pest control mechanism, but unless
temperatures are reduced extremely rapidly, insects can go into a state of
suspended animation and survive the treatment. This is expensive and difficult
to achieve and can also cause damage to some materials.
The temperature rises used by Thermo Lignum are relatively slight and, they say,
will not damage any materials.
The technology is aimed at the antique and museum market initially, but is
suitable for any objects. Its major advantages are that no damage whatsoever is
caused to treated objects and no deterioration in materials, decorations,
adhesives, polishes or any other feature occurs. This is clearly of great
advantage in the antique and museum markets where chemicals may cause severe
damage.
The Thermo Lignum system guarantees total eradication of infestations, and they
claim that research has shown reinfestation to be as infrequent following
thermal treatment as when chemicals are used.
As well as treating finished objects, Thermo Lignum treats materials which are
to be used in making objects. This removes infestations which may have occurred
in natural situations such as from timber which was infested in the forest.
It is possible to apply the system to rooms where, in order to reduce the volume
to be heated or enriched with nitrogen, vacant spaces are filled with an
inflatable balloon.
While the company is initially focusing on the antiques and museum markets, they
are keen to make other potential clients aware of the advantages of the system.
Local authorities, hostels and hotels and private home owners could potentially
use the system to de-infest bedding, clothing, furniture, carpets, books
and other objects where currently the only options are chemical. (MD)
Thermo Lignum can be contacted in London Tel: 020 8964 3964.