Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections

Maintaining a tight RH range for unstable glass is energy- and carbon-intensive. The carbon footprint of several methods for controlling showcases and storerooms, including sorbents, dehumidifiers and sorbents, Miniclima, and RK2, has been measured. Dehumidifiers outperformed Miniclima and RK2 units...

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Main Authors: David Thickett, Antanas Mėlinis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/7/251
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author David Thickett
Antanas Mėlinis
author_facet David Thickett
Antanas Mėlinis
author_sort David Thickett
collection DOAJ
description Maintaining a tight RH range for unstable glass is energy- and carbon-intensive. The carbon footprint of several methods for controlling showcases and storerooms, including sorbents, dehumidifiers and sorbents, Miniclima, and RK2, has been measured. Dehumidifiers outperformed Miniclima and RK2 units in control capability, but all three exhibited a higher carbon footprint than passive control methods. However, tailoring the right conditions for the right objects is crucial. The decay of different glass compositions in atmospheric conditions was measured using surface ion swabbing. Conditions below 40% in addition to forced air movement universally slowed deterioration. Formic acid was found to significantly accelerate glass alteration but could be removed using the RK2 unit.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2571-9408
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publisher MDPI AG
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spelling doaj-art-950d974373d04877ba761dbdcb82c73f2025-08-20T03:32:12ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082025-06-018725110.3390/heritage8070251Sustainability of Maintaining Glass CollectionsDavid Thickett0Antanas Mėlinis1English Heritage, Ranger’s House, Chesterfield Walk, London SE10 8QX, UKEnglish Heritage, Ranger’s House, Chesterfield Walk, London SE10 8QX, UKMaintaining a tight RH range for unstable glass is energy- and carbon-intensive. The carbon footprint of several methods for controlling showcases and storerooms, including sorbents, dehumidifiers and sorbents, Miniclima, and RK2, has been measured. Dehumidifiers outperformed Miniclima and RK2 units in control capability, but all three exhibited a higher carbon footprint than passive control methods. However, tailoring the right conditions for the right objects is crucial. The decay of different glass compositions in atmospheric conditions was measured using surface ion swabbing. Conditions below 40% in addition to forced air movement universally slowed deterioration. Formic acid was found to significantly accelerate glass alteration but could be removed using the RK2 unit.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/7/251sustainabilityglassanalysisformic acid
spellingShingle David Thickett
Antanas Mėlinis
Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections
Heritage
sustainability
glass
analysis
formic acid
title Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections
title_full Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections
title_fullStr Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections
title_full_unstemmed Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections
title_short Sustainability of Maintaining Glass Collections
title_sort sustainability of maintaining glass collections
topic sustainability
glass
analysis
formic acid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/7/251
work_keys_str_mv AT davidthickett sustainabilityofmaintainingglasscollections
AT antanasmelinis sustainabilityofmaintainingglasscollections