Desalination of Composite Iron Objects with Poultices – Options and Limits

Abstract

The results of a series of tests on the alkaline desalination treatment for archaeological objects are presented, which was part of a master’s thesis at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin. The goal was to find a functional desalination-treatment for a folding knife with bone handles. On archaeological samples the success of desalination using a poultice, a paste and a gel were compared with a bath solution. The content of the extracted and residual chlorides was measured by photometric method. The compress from Arbocel® BC 200 delivered the best results and was used and assessed for the preservation of the folding knife.