Chloride extraction from archaeological iron: comparative treatment efficiencies

AbstractThis paper compares the chloride extraction efficiency of the following aqueous washing methods: alkaline sulphite, Soxhlet hot wash, repeated boiling and pressurized water. Absolute extraction efficiencies are determined by digestion of the objects following treatment. Alkaline sulphite is shown to be a more efficient chloride extractor than the other three treatments examined, either separately or combined. Its mean chloride extraction rate is 87% as compared to 72% for the combined treatments.