Many objects made up of wood, paper and textiles are seriously damaged by a variety of pests and often such damages are irreversible. Most disinfestations methods involve the use of chemical agents, which may have significant effects of environmental pollution and toxicity for operators, due to the presence of chemical residues in the treated objects. Other disinfestation methods may not be completely effective against all stages of insect cycle or can possibly react with the treated object causing visible or non-visible damages.

During the last decades increasing interest in conservation science together with global environmental awareness has led to recent development of innovative and non-invasive techniques in this field.

In this article the two innovative and ecological disinfestation treatments applied in conservation today are explained. These technologies have been recently introduced for the first time in Malta by SalvArti Co. Ltd with the assistance of ERDF (Innovation) Action Grant Scheme administered by the Malta Enterprise.

Anoxia disinfestation technology

This technique requires isolation of the object to be treated by wrapping it in a special film and removing the oxygen inside and replacing it with an inert gas, thus eradicating all insects in all stages of development.

Anoxic disinfestation is a method that has no noxious effect on the items that are treated or on the operator/owner. It is safe, ecological, non-toxic, non-flammable and non-chemical. It can also be taken on-site for situations where the object cannot be moved.

Microwave disinfestation technology

Microwave disinfestation rely on the absorption of the electromagnetic energy of microwaves by water molecules contained in the pests infesting the objects under treatment, leading to pests’ mortality within a few minutes, without affecting or causing any alteration to the object being treated.

It is a non-invasive, safe and effective treatment for pest control of objects of historical-artistic interest such as: furniture, gilded frames, paintings, polychrome sculptures, musical instruments, books, documents, textiles, carpets and tapestries, which are generally subjected to the attack of woodworms, moulds and fungi.

With comparison to the traditional chemical disinfestation treatments, the microwave technology shows the following advantages:

• High efficacy of the disinfestation against all insects

• Rapidity

• Safety for the operators/owners

• Immediate availability of the object for use soon after treatment (no toxic residues)

• Compliance with the international environmental rules and protocols

• Economical

• Completely safe and non-invasive to the object

Today Microwave Technology is spread throughout Europe and used by restoration centers and museums such as the Vatican Museum.

Anoxia and Microwave disinfestation services for antiques are now available in Malta at SalvArti Co. Ltd where each object is treated with great care by professionals. The rapidity in this process gives the option to clients to actually wait for their objects whilst being treated and thus saving time and money in transit costs and above all having piece of mind over their precious antiques – this being a new facility offered by Salvarti for the first time in Malta.

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