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Py-GC/MS applied to the analysis of synthetic organic pigments: characterization and identification in paint samples

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Abstract

A collection of 76 synthetic organic pigments was analysed using pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The purpose of this work was to expand the knowledge on synthetic pigments and to assess characteristic pyrolysis products that could help in the identification of these pigments in paint samples. We analysed several classes of synthetic pigments not previously reported as being analysed by this technique: some metal complexes, β-naphthol pigment lakes, BONA pigment lakes, disazopyrazolone, triarylcarbonium, dioxazine, anthraquinone, indanthrone, isoindoline and thioindigo classes. We also report for the first time the Py-GC/MS analysis of a number of naphthol AS, benzimidazolone, phthalocyanine and perylene pigments and other miscellaneous pigments including pigments with unpublished chemical structure. We successfully used the Py-GC/MS technique for the analysis of paints by artists Clyfford Still and Jackson Pollock to identify the synthetic organic pigments and the binding media.

Pyrogram of PR49, with fragments produced by pyrolysis

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, via Moruzzi 3, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Elisa Ghelardi, Ilaria Degano & Maria Perla Colombini

  2. ICVBC-CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    Maria Perla Colombini

  3. Getty Conservation Institute, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90049-1684, USA

    Joy Mazurek, Michael Schilling & Tom Learner

Authors
  1. Elisa Ghelardi
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  2. Ilaria Degano
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  3. Maria Perla Colombini
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  4. Joy Mazurek
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  5. Michael Schilling
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  6. Tom Learner
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Correspondence to Ilaria Degano.

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Ghelardi, E., Degano, I., Colombini, M.P. et al. Py-GC/MS applied to the analysis of synthetic organic pigments: characterization and identification in paint samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 407, 1415–1431 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8370-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8370-y

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