Soot, also known as smoke residue, is the resulting mixture of gases and particles from a fire that have been deposited. The composition of soot is not all equal as it depends upon the composition of materials that were burned in the fire. However, the content of all soot does have a carbon content of 60% or greater. The resulting type of soot from a fire is also dependent upon how the fire burns and the moisture content of the air at the time. The three primary types of soot: protein, wet, and dry.
Protein soot – the result of burnt organic matter. It has a strong odor, discolors paint, disperses easily, and attaches to everything.
Wet soot – the result of low oxygen, slow burning fires that leaves a sticky residue that is difficult to remove.
Dry soot – the result of fast burning fires with high temperatures and leaves a residue that easier to remove.
The longer soot remains on an object, the harder it becomes to remove because of the interaction of its particles with humidity, the composition of the objects it attaches to, and other particles in the air. As for damage, soot can lead to corrosion, discoloration, pitting if it is not removed quickly enough.
A common method to remove soot is by utilizing a soot sponge to gently rub at the surface of the effected area. Soot sponges are made of vulcanized natural rubber, or rubber that has been treated with sulfur in order to harden it. Students in the Treatment Techniques class utilized soot sponges to remove soot from the Colonel Hook documents.
When working to clean soot, you should take precautions to protect yourself against inhalation and direct contact with your skin because it can cause lung and skin irritations. Because of this, it is important to wear gloves and glasses, a respirator, not eat or drink near the soot, and wash your hands after coming in contact with it.
Sources & Useful Resources:
Colonel Hook Papers 