Short Communication Removal of Paraffin Wax in the Re-treatment of Archaeological Iron

Abstract

More than 5,600 flood-damaged, previously treated archaeological iron objects were in need of desalination and stabilization treatments, requiring development of an efficient method for the removal of the old paraffin wax coatings. Testing indicated that suspending the objects in heated xylene vapor inside a solvent recycling still was the most effective method of removing the wax. Air monitoring in the workroom has shown the still to release less vapor into the working environment than soaking objects in tubs of solvent.