Ammonia Treatment of Acidic Vasa Wood

• Outbreaks of acidic sulfate salts have been reported in numerous areas on the wooden surfaces of the Swedish historical shipwreck Vasa (from 1628) in the Vasa Museum. Effects of ammonia vapour treatment to reduce the acidity in Vasa wood, similar to that previously applied to the Dutch East Indiaman Batavia (from 1629), have been investigated by means of solid state 13C-NMR and MALDI-TOF spectrometry. No major changes were found in the molecular weight distribution of the bulking agent polyethylene glycol (PEG) or in the crystallinity of pulp cellulose after mild exposure to ammonia vapour. Further studies on the long-term pH stability and the post-treatment properties of the wood using spectroscopic methods and mechanical testing are in progress.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Andra medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Other Basic Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Chemistry

Kemi

Structural Chemistry

strukturkemi

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)