Smell removal (bitumen) from teak

[Tigercubrider]

I am trying an experiment.
Several years ago I bought some reclaimed teak online, it was covered in the bitumen that held it down and was a bitch to remove, but I managed it. I have run it through a planer both sides and it’s been stored for over a year in cardboard boxes.

I am getting ready to use it but it still smells a bit of the bitumen dust(?)

So I have put maybe 20 blocks per bag into ziplocks with a mug full of sodium bicarbonate and am going to see what the blocks smell like after 48 hours - maybe a week could be needed.

Just wondering if anyone’s tried it? Think it will work? Better solution?

They will eventually be coated so that could seal any aromatic in.
It’s not overpowering but I don’t want it to smell once it’s down

TIA

 

[foxhole]

What are you using it for , how are you finishing it ?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

I'm no chemist, but what smells will be the volatiles and they're more likely to be driven off by gentle heating.

 

[Tigercubrider]

I’m using it as flooring, unsure quite what finish yet. Possibly polyurethane but more likely Bono flooring stuff.
I can try the heat option as well.

Once I had removed the bitumen and planed the blocks, I stored them in cardboard boxes, about 30-35 to a box, folded lids but not sealed, boxes stacked. So potentially, any volatiles were trapped or the boxes took up some smell.
I have just started to unpack them so I can play around with technique