Evaluation of the Suitability of Electrokinetic Treatment to Desalinate the Limestone of the Tomb of Cyrus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran

Abstract

The tomb of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, is considered one of the most important monuments of Iran. Its advanced state of deterioration motivated the need to carry out a study focused on analyzing the possible damage caused by the presence of soluble salts, and to assess the suitability of an electrokinetic treatment for their extraction. Preliminary diagnostics carried out on stone samples taken from the tomb confirmed that it is affected by the action of soluble salts, and especially by the presence of nitrates and sulfates. The effectiveness and possible harmful effects caused by electrokinetic treatment were evaluated, under laboratory conditions, using the same limestone that makes up the tomb. The obtained results show that this treatment, in a short period of time, reduces the ionic content, reaching high percentages of anion extraction, without causing any damage, which indicates that it is suitable for this type of stone.