Abstract
The use of Fourier transform infrared spectromicroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS) allowed us to characterize the composition of polar and non-polar binders present in sporadic wall paint fragments taken from Pompeii’s archaeological excavation. The analyses of the polar and non-polar binder components extracted from paint powder layer showed the presence of amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids but the absence of proteinaceous material. These results are consistent with a water tempera painting mixture composed of pigments, flours, gums, and oils and are in agreement with those obtained from a simulated wall paint sample made for mimicking an ancient “a secco” technique. Notably, for the first time, we report the capability to discriminate by tandem MS the presence of free amino acids in the paint layer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Saiz-Jimenez C (2003) In: Saiz-Jimenez C (ed) Molecular biology and cultural heritage. Swets & Zeitlinger, The Netherlands
Evershed RP (2008) Archaeometry 50:895–924
Domenéch-Carbò MT (2008) Anal Chim Acta 621:109–139
Zhang H, Yan W, Aebersold R (2004) Curr Opin Chem Biol 8:66–75
Colombini MP, Modugno F (2004) J Sep Sci 27:147–160
Tokarski C, Martin E, Rolando C, Cren-Olive C (2006) Anal Chem 78:1494–1502
Chambery A, Di Maro A, Sanges C, Severino V, Tarantino M, Lamberti A, Parente A, Arcari P (2009) Anal Bioanal Chem 395:2281–2291
Fremout W, Dhaenens M, Saverwyns S, Sanyova J, Vandenabeele P, Deforce D, Moens L (2010) Anal Chim Acta 658:156–162
Augusti S (1967) I colori Pompeiani. De Luca, Rome
Duran A, Jimenez De Haro MC, Perez-Rodriguez JL, Franquelo ML, Herrera LK, Justo A (2010) Archaeometry 52:286–307
Lindon JC, Nicholson JK, Holmes E, Keun HC, Craig A, Pearce JT, Bruce SJ, Hardy N, Sansone SA, Antti H, Jonsson P, Daykin C, Navarange M, Beger RD, Verheij ER, Amberg A, Baunsgaard D, Cantor GH, Lehman-McKeeman L, Earll M, Wold S, Johansson E, Haselden JN, Kramer K, Thomas C, Lindberg J, Schuppe-Koistinen I, Wilson ID, Reily MD, Robertson DG, Senn H, Krotzky A, Kochhar S, Powell J, van der Ouderaa F, Plumb R, Schaefer H, Spraul M, Standard Metabolic Reporting Structures working group (2005) Nat Biotechnol 23:833–838
Ha YW, Thomas RL (1988) J Food Sci 53:574–577
Zadrożna I, Połeć-Pawlak K, Głuch I, Ackacha MA, Mojski M, Witowska-Jarosz J, Jarosz M (2003) J Sep Sci 26:996–1004
Salvado N, Butı S, Tobin MJ, Pantos E, Prag AJNW, Pradell T (2005) Anal Chem 77:3444–3451
Chace DH, Kalas TA, Naylor EW (2003) Clin Chem 49:1797–1817
Mustafa A, Åman P, Andersson R, Kamal-Eldin A (2007) Food Chem 105:317–324
Bonaduce I, Brecoulaki H, Colombini MP, Lluveras A, Restivo V, Ribechini E (2007) J Chromatogr A 1175:275–282
Kurata S, Yamaguchi K, Nagai M (2005) Anal Sci 21:1457–1465
Regert M, Colinart S, Degrand L, Decavallas O (2001) Archaeometry 43:549–569
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge Drs. Daniela Garofalo and Oceania D’Apolito (Università di Foggia) for technical support on tandem mass spectrometry. This study was supported by PA personal funds.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
ESM 1
(PDF 1992 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Corso, G., Gelzo, M., Sanges, C. et al. Polar and non-polar organic binder characterization in Pompeian wall paintings: comparison to a simulated painting mimicking an “a secco” technique. Anal Bioanal Chem 402, 3011–3016 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-5746-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-5746-8