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Analysis of bulk and inorganic degradation products of stones, mortars and wall paintings by portable Raman microprobe spectroscopy

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Abstract

This work reports the use of a portable Raman microprobe spectrometer for the analysis of bulk and decaying compounds in carbonaceous materials such as stones, mortars and wall paintings. The analysed stones include limestone, dolomite and carbonaceous sandstone, gypsum and calcium oxalate, both mono- and dihydrated, being the main inorganic degradation products detected. Mortars include bulk phases with pure gypsum, calcite and mixtures of both or with sand, soluble salts being the most important degradation products. The pigments detected in several wall paintings include Prussian blue, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, vermilion, carbon black and lead white. Three different decaying processes have been characterised in the mortars of the wall paintings: (a) a massive absorption of nitrates that reacted with calcium carbonate and promoted the unbinding of pigment grains, (b) the formation of black crusts in the vault of the presbytery and (c) the thermodecomposition of pigments due to a fire.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been financially supported by projects No. UPV 14590/2002 and UE02-A06. M. Pérez-Alonso, I. Martinez-Arkarazo and K. Castro acknowledge the grants from the Basque Government, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Spanish Government, respectively. The authors acknowledge the referees’ suggestions, especially one of them who helped us in identifying the nature of the biofilm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    M. Pérez-Alonso, K. Castro, I. Martinez-Arkarazo, M. Angulo, M. A. Olazabal & J. M. Madariaga

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  1. M. Pérez-Alonso
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  2. K. Castro
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  3. I. Martinez-Arkarazo
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  4. M. Angulo
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  5. M. A. Olazabal
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  6. J. M. Madariaga
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Correspondence to M. Pérez-Alonso.

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Pérez-Alonso, M., Castro, K., Martinez-Arkarazo, I. et al. Analysis of bulk and inorganic degradation products of stones, mortars and wall paintings by portable Raman microprobe spectroscopy. Anal Bioanal Chem 379, 42–50 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-004-2496-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-004-2496-2

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