Electro-desalination of glazed tile panels – discussion of possibilities

Author(s): Celia Dias-Ferreira, Lisbeth M. Ottosen, Alexandra B. Ribeiro
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the International RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering Conference segment on Electrochemistry in Civil Engineering
Editor(s): Lisbeth M. Ottosen
ISBN: 978-2-35158-176-6
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-177-3
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 46-53
Total Pages: 8
Language : English

Abstract: Glaze is lost from tiles in tile panels due to presence of soluble salts and this means loss of important heritage. The present paper discusses the possibility to apply electro-desalination. An in-situ test has not been performed yet, but encouraging results have been obtained with different parts of the system. Single tiles, a variety of porous stones and the mortar on the back of a tile have all been electro-desalinated successfully in laboratory scale. Thus individually, all parts of the wall with tile panel can be electro-desalinated. The interface between mortar and tile can be problematic. In the few experiments conducted on tiles with attached mortar, the mortar was desalinated to a higher degree than the biscuit and successful desalination of the biscuit through the mortar requires further research.
In-situ pilot scale tests were performed on highly salt-contaminated walls without tiles by placing electrodes at the same side of the wall. Thus it may be possible to desalinate tile panels, without any physical damage of the fragile glaze, by placing electrodes on the back of the wall or by removing some tiles, placing electrodes in their spaces, and extracting the salts from there before the tiles are placed back again.

Online publication : 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00