Dehumidification property of Eskisehir–Derbent Ciftligi white tuffs in Turkey

Abstract

In Anatolia, throughout the centuries, caverns in tuffs have been used for food storage. The aim of this study is to investigate experimentally the dehumidification property of tuffs, and to confirm whether tuffs play any part in the humidity of the ecosystem in storage. According to tests carried out on the Eskisehir–Derbent Ciftligi white tuffs and six different rock types from Turkey, it was found that the atmospheric moisture absorption ability of tuffs is relatively higher than those of other tested rocks. This suggests that the dehumidification property is a unique characteristic of tuffs. It may allow for the tuff walls to work as an air dehumidifier for storing food.