The Use of Oxygen-Free Environments in the Control of Museum Insect Pests

Abstract

Museums throughout the world face the challenge of finding non-toxic methods to control insect pests. This book focuses on practical rather than theoretical issues in the use of oxygen-free environments, presenting a detailed, hands-on guide to the use of oxygen-free environments in the eradication of museum insect pests. This volume discusses the use of nitrogen as the inert gas used to replace oxygen, and the use of a few specific types of containers as treatment chambers. An initial chapter explains the general advantages anoxia offers museum conservators. Subsequent chapters discuss methods and materials, small-scale anoxia using an oxygen absorber, large-scale anoxia using external nitrogen sources, and protocols for insect eradication using nitrogen anoxia. Appendices include a list of manufacturers and suppliers of material and equipment used in nitrogen anoxia. This volume includes a CD-ROM of the book, featuring an Index with terms linked to the text