Desalination of Historic Buildings, Stone and Wall Paintings

The result of research from the European Desalination project which investigates the use of poultices to treat salt damage in porous cultural heritage objects. While poulticing is widely practiced, its effects are often irreversible. The papers explore key topics including poultice material selection, pre-treatment assessment, salt and substrate analysis, salt distribution, and the risks and effectiveness of poulticing across various materials. The volume offers essential insights for conservators managing salt-related deterioration.

The papers collected in this volume are the fruits of the Desalination project – a European research project which involved representatives of the private sector, universities, industry, research centres and public authorities. This project examined the use of poultices to treat salt damage problems in porous objects (a widespread standard practice for at least three decades in cultural heritage conservation). However, as with many conservation interventions, while the poultice materials are (in large part) removable, the effects of this treatment are non-reversible. Topics include: The choice of one poultice material over another; Pre-treatment assessment of object and the salt deterioration; What substrate and/or salt analysis can/should be undertaken; Salts and their spatial distribution within objects; and The efficacy and functionality and potential dangers of typical poulticing methods on different material substrates.

INTRODUCTION

The Desalination project

Fulvio Zezza

Current use of poultices in conservation

Adrian Heritage, Alison Heritage, Friederike Funke, Veronique Verges-Belmin, Ann Bourges

The wall paintings in Tirsted Church - a history of failed salt treatments

Isabelle Brajer and Poul Klenz Larsen

WORKING PRINCIPLES OF POULTICE SYSTEMS

Physical principles affecting the efficiency of salt extraction by poulticing

Leo Pel, Alison Heritage, Victoria Voronina

Optimising the extraction of soluble salts from porous materials by poultices

Alison Heritage, Barbara Lubelli, Victoria Voronina, Leo Pel.

Salt transport in poultice/substrate systems

Vica Voronina, Leo Pel

Electrokinetic desalination: can it work?

Kashif Kamran, L. Pel, A. Heritage, H.P. Huinink and O.C.G. Adan

CHARACTERISTICS AND WORKING PROPERTIES OF POULTICE SYSTEMS

Practical advice regarding consistency and working properties of poultices

Ann Bourges, Veronique Verges-Belmin

Desalination of masonry structures: research towards the development of a modular system of poultices

B. Lubelli, R.P.J. van Hees & Georg Hilbert

Salt extraction with cellulose poultices in stone and wall paintings conservation: myths and realities

Veronique Verges Belmin, Alison Heritage and Ann Bourges

Water bath desalination followed by poultice treatment

Christoph Franzen, Frank Hoferick, Steffen Laue, Heiner Siedel

ASSESSMENT BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT

Desalination of historic masonry Pre-investigation and after-care

Rob van Hees, Barbara Lubellli

NDT methodology to assess substrate salt damage and desalination treatment

Fulvio Zezza

Counter indications for poulticing treatments: Schloss Augustusburg Bruhl, a case study

Alison Heritage, Adrian Heritage and Friederike Funke

PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Desalination of a low porosity limestone masonry

Ann Bourges, Veronique Verges-Belmin

Desalination of historical brick masonry: the case of the Waag building in Amsterdam

Barbara Lubelli and R.P.J. van Hees,

Effectiveness of poultices by perceptive and estimative parameters

Eloisa Di Sipio and Fulvio Zezza

A New Tool for Knowledge Transfer and Research: SalzWiki - a Specialized Wiki with a Repository on "" Salt damage in cultural property""

Hans-Jurgen Schwarz and Angela Weyer

Closing remarks

Fulvio Zezza,

INTRODUCTION

The Desalination project

Fulvio Zezza

 Current use of poultices in conservation

Adrian Heritage, Alison Heritage, Friederike Funke, Vèronique Vergés-Belmin, Ann Bourgès

The wall paintings in Tirsted Church – a history of failed salt treatments

Isabelle Brajer and Poul Klenz Larsen 

WORKING PRINCIPLES OF POULTICE SYSTEMS

 Physical principles affecting the efficiency of salt extraction by poulticing

Leo Pel, Alison Heritage, Victoria Voronina

Optimising the extraction of soluble salts from porous materials by poultices

Alison Heritage, Barbara Lubelli, Victoria Voronina, Leo Pel.

 Salt transport in poultice/substrate systems

Vica Voronina, Leo Pel

 Electrokinetic desalination: can it work?

Kashif Kamran, L. Pel, A. Heritage, H.P. Huinink and O.C.G. Adan

 CHARACTERISTICS AND WORKING PROPERTIES OF POULTICE SYSTEMS

 Practical advice regarding consistency and working properties of poultices

Ann Bourgès, Véronique Vergès-Belmin

Desalination of masonry structures: research towards the development of a modular system of poultices

B. Lubelli, R.P.J. van Hees & Georg Hilbert

Salt extraction with cellulose poultices in stone and wall paintings conservation: myths and realities

Véronique Vergès Belmin, Alison Heritage and Ann Bourgès

Water bath desalination followed by poultice treatment

Christoph Franzen, Frank Hoferick, Steffen Laue, Heiner Siedel

ASSESSMENT BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT

Desalination of historic masonry Pre-investigation and after-care

Rob van Hees, Barbara Lubellli

NDT methodology to assess substrate salt damage and desalination treatment

Fulvio Zezza

Counter indications for poulticing treatments: Schloss Augustusburg Brühl, a case study

Alison Heritage, Adrian Heritage and Friederike Funke

PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Desalination of a low porosity limestone masonry

Ann Bourgès, Véronique Vergès-Belmin

Desalination of historical brick masonry: the case of the Waag building in Amsterdam

Barbara Lubelli and R.P.J. van Hees,

Effectiveness of poultices by perceptive and estimative parameters

Eloisa Di Sipio and Fulvio Zezza

A New Tool for Knowledge Transfer and Research: SalzWiki - a Specialized Wiki with a Repository on „ Salt damage in cultural property”

Hans-Jürgen Schwarz and Angela Weyer

Closing remarks

Fulvio Zezza

• Edited by Alison Heritage
• Edited by Adrian Heritage
• Edited by Fulvio Zezza