Abstract: The Plantin-Moretus Museum/Print Room in Antwerp, Belgium, gathers one of the most precious collections of typographical material and old printed books in the world. Rich decorations of this former printing-house and the history of the building itself underline its uniqueness. The cultural heritage (CH) objects collected in the museum, in particular books and manuscripts are vulnerable to the atmospheric pollution and can be irreversibly damaged. To assess the air quality inside the museum, four consecutive sampling campaigns were performed in each season of the year. The gas monitoring of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) was carried out outside the building, in galleries and in showcases by means of using diffusive samplers. The particulate matter (PM) was collected in bulk form and as single particles and then analysed with use of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and electron probe micro-analyser (EPMA), respectively. The museum complex turned out to show good protection against gaseous pollutants, especially SO2 and O3. The concentrations of these pollutants were significantly reduced inside the building in comparison to the outdoor ones. Similar protective character of the museum complex was established in case of the coarse fraction of PM; however with some limitations. Single particle analysis showed that the relative abundance of carbon-rich particles inside the museum was greater than outside. Moreover, these particles contributed more to the fine fraction of PM than to the coarse fraction. Therefore, for better preservation of cultural heritage, special attention should be paid to the small particles and their distribution within the museum.

Abstract: For the isocratic ion chromatography (IC) separation of low-molecular-mass organic acids and inorganic anions three different anion-exchange columns were studied: IonPac AS14 (9 ìm particle size), Allsep A-2 (7 ìm particle size), and IC SI-50 4E (5 ìm particle size). A complete baseline separation for all analyzed anions (i.e., F−, acetate, formate, Cl−, NO2−, Br−, NO3−, HPO42− and SO42−) in one analytical cycle of shorter than 17 min was achieved on the IC SI-50 4E column, using an eluent mixture of 3.2 mM Na2CO3 and 1.0 mM NaHCO3 with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1. On the IonPac AS14 column, it was possible to separate acetate from inorganic anions in one run (i.e., less than 9 min), but not formate, under the following conditions: 3.5 mM Na2CO3 plus 1.0 mM NaHCO3 with a flow rate of 1.2 mL min−1. Therefore, it was necessary to adapt a second run with a 2.0 mM Na2B4O7 solution as an eluent under a flow rate of 0.8 mL min−1 for the separation of organic ions, which considerably enlarged the analysis time. For the Allsep A-2 column, using an eluent mixture of 1.2 mM Na2CO3 plus 1.5 mM NaHCO3 with a flow rate of 1.6 mL min−1, it was possible to separate almost all anions in one run within 25 min, except the fluoride-acetate critical pair. A Certified Multianion Standard Solution PRIMUS for IC was used for the validation of the analytical methods. The lowest RSDs (less than 1%) and the best LODs (0.02, 0.2, 0.16, 0.11, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.14 and 0.09 mg L−1 for F−, Ac−, For−, Cl−, NO2−, Br−, NO3−, HPO42− and SO42−, respectively) were achieved using the IC SI-50 4E column. This column was applied for the separation of concerned ions in environmental precipitation samples such as snow, hail and rainwater.

Abstract: Novel synthetic protocols based on both template and multi-step methods were developed for phenyl-substituted pyrazinoporphyrazine complexes of rare-earth elements (Y, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er and Lu). p-Hydroquinone was employed as a reaction medium and as a reducing agent in the process of porphyrazine macrocycle formation. Both thermal and microwave irradiation techniques were successfully applied for activation of the template macrocyclization process. An alternative multi-step approach involving the initial stage of free-base ligand formation was realized for the lutetium compound. The target complexes were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Electrochemical behavior in solution and UV-vis absorbance in solutions and films were studied as well. Shifts in the position of the Q band and oxidationreduction potentials in comparison with corresponding phthalocyanine analogues were noticed. Using the IR absorption spectra recorded in the temperature range of 170300 K, the position of the Fermi level of −4.7 ± 0.1 eV and a characteristic energy diagram were obtained for the erbium complex.

Abstract: Indoor and outdoor concentrations of atmospheric gaseous pollutants as well as composition, size, and morphology of particulate matter have been investigated at the monastery of San Jerónimo in Granada (Southern Spain). Complementary micro- and nano-analytical techniques were applied; elemental and mineralogical composition and morphological characteristics of particulate matter were investigated combining electron probe microanalysis at the single particle level, and bulk aerosol samples were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microclimatic conditions at the monastery were monitored, and gas concentrations were assessed by means of diffusion tubes subsequently analyzed with ion chromatography. Results revealed high abundances of soil dust particles (aluminosilicates, calcite, dolomite, quartz), salt aerosols (chlorides, sulfates and ammonium-rich salts), and NO2 and SO2 both outdoors and indoors. Amorphous black carbon particles had surprisingly high abundances for Granada, a non-industrialized city. The composition of indoor particles corresponds to severe weathering affecting the construction materials and artworks inside the church; moreover their composition promotes a feedback process that intensifies the deterioration. Chemical reactions between chloride-rich salts and pigments from paintings were confirmed by TEM analyses. Indoors, blackening of surface decorative materials is fostered by particle re-suspension due to cleaning habits in the monastery (i.e. dusting). This is the first air quality study performed in a monument in the city of Granada with the aim of developing a strategy for preventive conservation.

Abstract: A technical examination of the Last Judgment triptych by Hieronymus Bosch in the Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, has revealed a painted escutcheon with the coat of arms of the Burgundian court official Hippolyte de Berthoz underneath the current surface of the right outer wing. This allows him to be firmly identified as the painting's patron.

Abstract: Colors in many paintings of great art historical value have changed over time, due to the combined effects of natural ageing, accumulated surface grime, and materials added during later conservation treatments. The physical restoration of the colors in such paintings is not possible. This article describes one part of work done to digitally restore the colors of Van Gogh's painting Field with Irises near Arles, dating from May 1888. We have used multispectral reflectance data to estimate absorption K and backscattering S parameters of Kubelka-Munk 2-constant theory. This was done for all 13 pigments known to have been used by Van Gogh in this painting, and based on this the concentration maps for each of these pigments were calculated. We validated the calculated concentration maps in several ways. For some pigments, we were able to predict spots on the painting where the pigment is expected to occur in unmixed form based on visual examination. For several other pigments, the concentration maps could be shown to agree with XRF data. Finally, for some other pigments the concentration maps were supported by additional evidence from microscopic examinations, remarks in Van Gogh's letters and from early color reproductions. For the 1.7 million pixels for which multispectral data is available, the average color difference between the calculated and measured spectral reflectance curves is CIEDE2000 = 1.05. This further confirms that the Kubelka-Munk calculations are well suited to describe the variety of spectral reflectance on the painting.