Connecting to Collections Care

Good morning,

My organization operates a historic house and we have cyclical issues with carpet beetles. We have removed a number of objects from the house but need to treat for carpet beetles before they go into long term storage.

Most of the objects we have been able to freeze and then our Collections Assistant has cleaned them, removing any bug carcasses, casings, and frass. However, we have a number of objects that are of a) unknown material with an unknown reaction to freezing or b) in such fragile states that freezing seems like a bad idea.

Looking at other potential treatments for these items, we were investigating anoxic treatments that could be done in house--oxygen scrubbers and and a sealed container/bag. This of course has brought up a number of other issues as we do not currently have any of the tools needed for this on-site. As we're starting from scratch, I wanted to get some recommendations on what to use and where we can source what we need.

Talas sells the Hanwell Anoxibug Bag, which seems like it would suit our purposes, but I wanted to get recommendations. Has anyone used this product? Does it perform as promised? What are alternatives?

Talas also has Mitsubishi Oxygen Absorbers RP-A and RP-K and the Ageless Eye oxygen detectors. I have not been able to locate the Ageless oxygen scrubber for sale, though I find plenty of literature mentioning it. Are there vendors that still sell Ageless oxygen scrubbers, or are RP-A and RP-K the appropriate successors?

For oxygen monitoring to ensure that we are getting to a low O2 environment, I have heard that the Ageless Eye is unreliable. A number of places recommended Hanwell's ZerO2 oxygen monitor. Is that a good option? If so, where can it be purchased from? What are other options for monitoring oxygen levels to ensure an anoxic environment is created and maintained for the duration needed for treatment?

I will add two final notes: 1) Any recommendations with how to proceed with treating these items for carpet beetle infestation (no live beetles spotted) would be appreciated and 2) please limit any vendor recommendations to vendors based in the USA.

Thanks in advance,

Anna

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Anna Goss
Director of Collections & Exhibitions
Stark Museum of Art & The W.H. Stark House
Orange, Texas
United States
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Hi Anna, thanks for bringing this question to C2CC. I will do my best to support your inquiry. I will say that since your remaining objects are fragile or of uncertain material-and you're not observing live beetles-anoxic treatment is entirely appropriate, in my opinion. It is non‑chemical, gentle, and suitable for most historic materials when correctly monitored.

My go to resource for all things pest management -related is museumpests.net! If you check out this page specifically (https://museumpests.net/solutions-oxygen-scavenger-treatment/) it outlines the materials required for anoxic treatment for pest management and suggestions for where to source the required materials/products. On that webpage you will also find general procedures for setting up and monitoring an anoxic enclosure, which I will include below:

General procedures (museumpests.net)

1. Construct an enclosure using a low-permeability barrier film such as Marvelseal 360, Aclar, Film-Pak, or Escal or Anoxibug System pre-made enclosures.  All seams should be heat sealed and checked for leakage.  The enclosure should be made large enough to accommodate a 20% reduction in volume of the enclosed air without damaging the object being treated.  Care should be taken not to make the enclosure too large, as this may cause an undesired increase in the equilibrium moisture content of the enclosed object during treatment.
2. Place the object within the barrier film enclosure along with enough oxygen scavenger (Ageless or RP or Anoxibug System scavenger (based on oxidation of iron particles)  It is common practice to double or even triple the calculated amount of oxygen scavenger required to ensure effective treatment.  Some practitioners recommend loosely wrapping the object to be treated in either washed muslin or acid-free unbuffered tissue. Some heat is generated as the oxygen scavenger reacts with oxygen, depending on the rate of the reaction. Care must be taken to spread the packets out and not to place them directly on or next to collections items.
3. Carefully pull air out of the enclosure with a vacuum. Seal the final seam of the enclosure.  Check the enclosure periodically for shrinkage during the first few days of treatment.  If the enclosure has been constructed and sealed properly, a 20% reduction in the volume of the enclosed air mass should be observable by the third to fifth day.  Keep the enclosure sealed for 21 days or according to manufacturer directions.  After 21 days the enclosure may be opened, and the object can be removed.

I do not have personal experience working with Anoxibug or Ageless Eye/Hanwell's ZerO2 oxygen monitors, so perhaps someone else from the community may be able to contribute. In the meantime, I will reach out to some colleagues for feedback regarding those products.

I hope this helps!

Kind regards,

Victoria

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Victoria Kablys-Nielsen (she/her/hers)
Connecting to Collections Care Monitor

Conservator
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
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Dear Anna,

I'm a bit new to these issues but perhaps some of this research might be of use. 

With care,

Peg

1. Cleaning to remove the remaining bugs: From Rutgers, https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1181/

Dry Cleaning and Hot Laundering

Garments can be dry cleaned or hot laundered to kill all fabric pests.

2. Anoxic Control: From the Smithsonian, https://repository.si.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/08918fff-facd-438e-8b4b-36e7fe3c989e/content

3. Where the buggers are hiding: From University of Kentucky - since you mentioned they are reoccurring : https://entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef601

 Controlling Infestations. To eliminate carpet beetles, you must locate all infested items. The primary source may be a seldom-used wool or fur hat or scarf on a shelf in a closet; an antique rug stored in the basement; or the remains of a bird or squirrel nest up in the attic. Carpet beetles prefer to dwell in dark, undisturbed areas where susceptible items are stored for long periods. When inspecting clothing, pay attention to seams, folds, and creases (e.g. cuffs and collars) where larvae often prefer to feed. Larvae also tend to infest the lower edges of rugs and carpeting. Use needle-nose pliers to lift the outer edge of wall-to-wall carpet from the tack strip along baseboards. Other possible locations include under/within upholstered furniture, or inside floor vents and ducts with accumulations of pet hair and lint. As noted earlier, infestations may also stem from bird nests, animal carcasses, or accumulations of dead insects such as flies or lady beetles in attics or elsewhere. Plant-based materials (cereal, pet food, bird seed, etc.) stored in kitchens and basements, or cached by rodents, are other possible sources of carpet beetles.   

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Peggy Cwiakala, MLIS
Student, USC Museum Management Program
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Dear Anna,

After reading your message in the group, I would like to share my experience with you and see if that could help you in your case.

How you and other colleagues mentioned you took the right step on the treatment to use!

A in house anoxic treatment is quite easy to set,is safe with a budget reduced and very  good  outcome.

But before show you the process you have to understand that the monitoring equipment is fundamental( If I was in you I was spend a base budget , because in a environment like your collection the possibility to experience a pest infestation is high).

Ok, let's go deep.What you need?

-A oxygen barrier film(possibly transparent , to give you the possibility to do an inspection any time you need).

-2 or more valve to attach to the oxygen barrier bag.( an inlet and an outlet).

-2 wireless humid/temp sensor( one inside the bag the other in the room were you do the treatment).

-1 oxygen detector sensor(I can send you the picture privately , with a very moderate cost , auto calibrate and reliable, but if you want I can address also more precise instrument on fiber glass reading trough the plastic film).

-1or more cylinders of Argon or Nitrogen purity 99,999

Ok next  after you  heat sealed the bag with your objects and the sensor we build the gas system.

Why you want to use the gas and not the oxygen schravenger?

Because to keep the level for 4/5 weeks at 0,03% of O2 to full mortality in all the life circle of the species it is very difficult just with the oxygen scharvenger to don't say impossible. The oxygen absorber have a metal inside that ones is in contact with the oxygen inside the bag release heat, at that point you need also silica gel to buffer the humidity inside the bag. 

However the reason you have to build the gas system is because the purity of the gas (99.999%) is very dry, bellow20%, that for most organic materials it is quite a crucial point.

In fact ones  the gas from the cylinder pass inside a plastic container with water , the gas get humidify and his humidity change.After be humidified the gas will go in another container empty were a humidity sensor will tell you how humid is your gas before go in the bag!

I know that can sound difficult (I can send you a picture and you will see that is very easy)I still have some were the info for this company in USa were I ordered the valves.

What need be considered about the monitoring oxygen?

The oxygen reader has externally a probe with a sensor that you have to place sometimes on the outlet valve of the bag.

Of course Anna the valve can be close or open base on the flow the gas go inside and the oxygen outside.

Your main control of gas flow is attached on the cylinder(you can ask for this instrument to any welding company).From this instrument you can read the amount of gas coming out from the Cylind at minute.

One's your oxygen reach the 0,03% you close the main gas and you close also the inlet and outlet of the plastic bag.

If the O2 is stable for 3/5 days at the same value or arrive to 0,3% at that point you can count the 4 weeks of your treatment.

I think that are already a lot information to process, but is more easy than you think.

However, if you need the pictures and other information about instrumentations, type of gas to use base on the objects and pests and monitoring data analisys    you can mail me directly.

Hope this message took some stress out !

Sincerely

Manzo Aldo

atelieraldomanzo@gmail.com

associate preventive conservator and organic materials restorer ,The Netherlands.

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Aldo Manzo
Wood and Paintings conservator
The Hague
Netherlands
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