Abstract: Over the past years a number of studies have described the instability of the pigment cadmium yellow (CdS). In a previous paper we have shown how cadmium sulfide on paintings by James Ensor oxidizes to CdSO4 center dot H2O. The degradation process gives rise to the fading of the bright yellow color and the formation of disfiguring white crystals that are present on the paint surface in approximately 50 mu m sized globular agglomerations. Here, we study cadmium yellow in the painting “Flowers in a blue vase” by Vincent van Gogh. This painting differs from the Ensor case in the fact that (a) a varnish was superimposed onto the degraded paint surface and (b) the CdS paint area is entirely covered with an opaque crust. The latter obscures the yellow color completely and thus presents a seemingly more advanced state of degradation. Analysis of a cross-sectioned and a crushed sample by combining scanning microscopic X-ray diffraction (mu-XRD), microscopic X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (mu-XANES), microscopic X-ray fluorescence (mu-XRF) based chemical state mapping and scanning microscopic Fourier transform infrared (mu-FT-IR) spectrometry allowed unravelling the complex alteration pathway. Although no crystalline CdSO4 compounds were identified on the Van Gogh paint samples, we conclude that the observed degradation was initially caused by oxidation of the original CdS pigment, similar as for the previous Ensor case. However, due to the presence of an overlying varnish containing lead-based driers and oxalate ions, secondary reactions took place. In particular, it appears that upon the photoinduced oxidation of its sulfidic counterion, the Cd2+ ions reprecipitated at the paint/varnish interface after having formed a complex with oxalate ions that themselves are considered to be degradation products of the resin and/or oil in the varnish. The SO42- anions, for their part, found a suitable reaction partner in Pb2+ ions stemming from a dissolved lead-based siccative that was added to the varnish to promote its drying. The resulting opaque anglesite compound in the varnish, in combination with the underlying CdC2O4 layer at the paint/varnish interface, account for the orange-gray crust that is disfiguring the painting on a macroscopic level. In this way, the results presented in this paper demonstrate how, through a judicious combined use of several microanalytical methods with speciation capabilities, many new insights can be obtained from two minute, but highly complex and heterogeneous paint samples.

Abstract: The effects of inaccurate sample sizes and sample positioning on 14 MeV neutron activation analysis results are estimated for 30, 20 and 10 mm diameter targets. It appears that axial positioning is the most critical parameter and that using a larger tritium target will yield an overall improvement of the reproducibility.

Abstract: The neutron flux distribution in the vicinity of 30, 20 and 10 mm diameter targets is measured by irradiating concentric ring-type iron monitors at different distances from the target and counting the induced56Mn activity. Considering the many uncertainties, satisfactory agreement was found between theory and experiment.

Abstract: The half-life of28Al was redetermined on aluminium samples of different origin. Three different counting techniques were applied. The availability of highly purified samples (up to 99.9999%), the use of very fast electronic counting equipment and a complete automatisation allowed a good precision to be obtained in the final result of 2.2405 min.

Abstract: Relative sensitivity factors for determination of 41 elements by spark-source mass-spectrometry have been measured. The samples were pressed into graphite electrodes and ionized with a radiofrequency spark. The mass spectra were recorded on a photoplate and the resulting data processed by a computer. Indium was used as standard and the relative sensitivity factors for both singly- and doubly-charged ions were determined with reference to the singly-charged indium ion, with an overall error of 30%. The mean analysis precision was 16%.

Abstract: Chelation by oxine followed by adsorption on activated carbon results in the efficient collection of many trace metal ions, independent of the trace metal concentration and of high alkali and alkaline earth ion abundances. Preconcentration factors around 10000 are often achieved. When this preconcentration procedure is combined with energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, accurate and precise analysis can be carried out, as was proven in several experiments. The technique can also be applied for the determination of divalent ions in natural waters containing up to 10 ppm of humic substances. Trivalent ions can quantitatively be collected from natural water provided suKicient activated carbon is added. Omitting the oxine chelation prior to the activated carbon adsorption step still results in collection of a sometimes important fraction of the trace metal ions from natural waters. This is related to organically bound or colloidal forms of the trace metals.

Abstract: Adding 20mg of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) to a water sample at 70°, and filtering off the precipitate after cooling, gives efficient preconcentration prior to X-ray fluorescence analysis of water. Up to the capacity of about 100 μeq of PAN used, the trace metal recoveries are around 90% or higher for Cr3+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Hg2+ and Eu3+, and above 70% for many other ions. The recovery yields usually do not vary critically with pH in the neutral pH-range, and are practically independent of the sample salinity, sample volume and trace-metal concentration. Enrichment factors as high as 2 × 105 can be achieved. Counting statistics would then allow detection limits of 0.03 ppM. The blank levels in commercial PAN, however, lead to typical detection limits of about 1 ppm. The coefficient of variation is typically in the 510% range at the 10-ppM level. The accuracy and applicability of the procedure are illustrated by comparative analyses on samples of synthetic solutions, river and drinking water.

Abstract: In the past decade macroscopic X-ray fluorescence imaging (MA-XRF) has become established as a method for the noninvasive investigation of flat painted surfaces, yielding large scale elemental maps. MA-XRF is limited by a lack of specificity, only allowing for indirect pigment identification based on the simultaneous presence of chemical elements. The high specificity of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) mapping is already being exploited at synchrotron facilities for investigations at the (sub)microscopic scale, but the technique has not yet been employed using lab sources. In this paper we present the development of a novel MA-XRPD/XRF instrument based on a laboratory X-ray source. Several combinations of X-ray sources and area detectors are evaluated in terms of their spatial and angular resolution and their sensitivity. The highly specific imaging capability of the combined MA-XRPD/XRF instrument is demonstrated on a 15th/16th century illuminated manuscript directly revealing the distribution of a large number of inorganic pigments, including the uncommon yellow pigment massicot (o-PbO). The case study illustrates the wealth of new mapping information that can be obtained in a noninvasive manner using the laboratory MA-XRPD/XRF instrument.