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Chemometric tool for identification of iron–gall inks by use of visible–near infrared fibre optic reflection spectroscopy

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Abstract

A method has been developed for identification of corrosive iron–gall inks in historical drawings and documents. The method is based on target-factor analysis of visible–near infrared fibre optic reflection spectra (VIS–NIR FORS). A set of reference spectra was obtained from model samples of laboratory-prepared inks covering a wide range of mixing ratios of basic ink components deposited on substrates and artificially aged. As criteria for correspondence of a studied spectrum with a reference spectrum, the apparent error in target (AET) and the empirical function SPOIL according to Malinowski were used. The capability of the proposed tool to distinguish corrosive iron–gall inks from bistre and sepia inks was evaluated by use of a set of control samples of bistre, sepia, and iron–gall inks. Examples are presented of analysis of historical drawings from the 15th and 16th centuries and written documents from the 19th century. The results of analysis based on the tool were confirmed by XRF analysis and colorimetric spot analysis.

Sitting Evangelist, Bartolomeo Passarotti, 16th century, Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Inventory No. K 96

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Slovak Scientific Grant Agency Vega for supporting this research (Project Vega 1/0811/11). This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract no. APVV-0324-10. This publication is the result of the project implementation: ITMS: 26240120016 supported by the Research and Development Operational Programme funded by the ERDF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Institute of Polymer Materials, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinskeho 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Lukáš Gál, Michal Čeppan, Milena Reháková & Vladimír Dvonka

  2. Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Hviezdoslavovo nám. 18, 814 37, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Jarmila Tarajčáková

  3. Slovak National Archives, Drotárska cesta 42, 817 01, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Jozef Hanus

Authors
  1. Lukáš Gál
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  2. Michal Čeppan
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  3. Milena Reháková
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  4. Vladimír Dvonka
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  5. Jarmila Tarajčáková
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  6. Jozef Hanus
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Correspondence to Michal Čeppan.

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Gál, L., Čeppan, M., Reháková, M. et al. Chemometric tool for identification of iron–gall inks by use of visible–near infrared fibre optic reflection spectroscopy. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 9085–9091 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7333-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7333-z

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