Advanced mapping of inorganic treatments on porous carbonate stones by combined synchrotron radiation high lateral μXRPD and μXRF

Understanding the effects of consolidating inorganic mineral treatments on carbonate stones of cultural heritage, and on the nature and distribution of newly formed products within the matrix, poses a significant challenge in Heritage Science and Conservation Science. Existing analytical methods often fail to deliver spatial and compositional insights into the newly formed crystalline phases with the appropriate high lateral resolution. In this study, we explore the capabilities and limitations of synchrotron radiation (SR) micro-X-ray powder diffraction (μXRPD) mapping combined with micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) to give insight into compounds formed following the application of ammonium oxalate (AmOx) and diammonium phosphate-based (DAP) solutions on porous carbonate stone. Ultimately, the integration of μXRPD mapping and μXRF analysis proved itself a powerful asset in providing precise qualitative and quantitative data on the newly formed phases, in the case of both calcium oxalates (CaOxs) and calcium phosphates (CaPs), and their complex stratigraphic distribution, thus opening a new route for applications to a more comprehensive study of inorganic treatments applied to carbonate substrates.