This work describes an investigation of the chemical composition of organic residues from ceramic samples, performed by means of FTIR. The specimens were subjected to FTIR analyses carried out in Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) mode, in diffuse reflectance (DRIFT) mode and in transmittance mode, and the results were compared. The analytical techniques applied in this study allowed the characterization of the organic residues discovered on the internal surface of the investigated samples. Several chemical classes of residues were identified: vegetable resins, waxes, proteinaceous compounds and calcium tartrate, as well, this latter usually used as a marker of wine. Among the spectroscopic methodologies, the ATR mode resulted the most sensitive and really effective. This technique was able to detect traces of organic residues even on areas that appeared clean during the visual inspection by either naked-eye or the stereomicroscope. In fact, merely weak interferences were due to the ceramic support. In addition, the ATR technique is a non-destructive methodology, hence, it allowed to use the same sample for further analytical investigations, and, more importantly, preserve it without any damage.
Identification of organic residues in archaeological ceramic artefacts by FT-IR spectroscopy: comparison between different application methodologies
M Lettieri
2010
Abstract
This work describes an investigation of the chemical composition of organic residues from ceramic samples, performed by means of FTIR. The specimens were subjected to FTIR analyses carried out in Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) mode, in diffuse reflectance (DRIFT) mode and in transmittance mode, and the results were compared. The analytical techniques applied in this study allowed the characterization of the organic residues discovered on the internal surface of the investigated samples. Several chemical classes of residues were identified: vegetable resins, waxes, proteinaceous compounds and calcium tartrate, as well, this latter usually used as a marker of wine. Among the spectroscopic methodologies, the ATR mode resulted the most sensitive and really effective. This technique was able to detect traces of organic residues even on areas that appeared clean during the visual inspection by either naked-eye or the stereomicroscope. In fact, merely weak interferences were due to the ceramic support. In addition, the ATR technique is a non-destructive methodology, hence, it allowed to use the same sample for further analytical investigations, and, more importantly, preserve it without any damage.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
