New trials in the consolidation of waterlogged archaeological wood with different acetone-carried products

Some acetone-carried consolidants for waterlogged archaeological wood were tested in order to evaluate treatments able to save time and energy. In details, colophony (rosin), two esterified colophonies (Rosin 100® and Rosin 459®), a mixture of colophony with PEG 3400 and a vinyl acetate - vinyl versate copolymer (Vinavil 8020S®) were tested. The treatments were carried out at temperatures of 20 and 35 °C on waterlogged maritime pine, elm, oak and beech. The materials came from the archaeological Site of the ancient ships of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy) and were dated back to VII cent. BC – II cent. AD. To evaluate the processes, equilibrium moisture content and dimensional stability of treated woo…

Dielectric polarization and polarizability of 1-pentanol+n-octane mixtures from static dielectric constant and refractive index data at 0,25 and 45�C

Static dielectric constants and refractive indices of 1-pentanol+n-octane mixtures were measured in the temperature range between 0 and 45°C. Data discussed in terms of Kirkwood correlation factor and Lorentz-Lorenz molar refractivity give information on the short range intermolecular interactions between the components. The role played by the nonpolar n-octane in the destruction of 1-pentanol oligomers is also pointed out.

Identification of organic compounds in fictile unguentaria from two Sicilian necropolis of Greek age (5th century, b.c.) by GC-MS analysis.

A study to obtain more knowledge on funeral set in Greek age, (5th Century, b.C.) was carried out on thirteen ancient unguentaria, small vessels used as containers of balms or ointments, founded in two different Sicilian necropolis: Adranon and Hymera. Every find was subjected to three extractions by increasing polarity solvents. All crude extracts, unsaponifiables and methyl esters of saponifiable fraction were analysed by GC-MS. Analysis showed difference between two groups of finds: the unguentaria from Adranon show abundant traces of lipids used in balm making, while those from Hymera resulted empty and buried for ritual purpose. Even if in the two towns, flourished in the same period, …

Calorimetric study on the solubilization of some primary alcohols by reversed AOT micelles

A calorimetric method to evaluate, at the same time, the distribution constant and the standard enthalpy of transfer of a solute partitioned between organic phase and reversed micelles is proposed. The method was applied to the partition of methanol, 1-propanol and 1-pentanol between n-heptane and AOT reversed micelles containing water at 25°C. The results show that the distribution constant decreases as the alcohol alkyl chain length increases and that the solubilization site can change as the water content of reversed AOT micelles increases. In particular, at sufficiently high water content, methanol seems to be preferably solubilized in the aqueous pseudophase whereas 1-pentanol prefers …

Viscosity studies of solutions of water inn-aliphatic alcohols at various temperatures

Viscosity measurements have been made at 25°C on solutions of water inn-propanol, and at 15, 25, 35, and 45°C on solutions of water inn-butanol,n-pentanol, andn-hexanol over the respective solubility ranges. For most of the systems, water decreases the viscosity of the dry alcohols, while for the lower members of the series literature data report an increase in viscosity on addition of water. These results are rationalized in terms of two kinds of interaction between water molecules and alcohols: participation of water molecules in chain formation for the lower alcohols and formation of water-centered complexes for butanol and higher alcohols.

Mass spectrometry for cultural heritage knowledge: gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of organic remains in Neolithic potsherds

A methodological approach in the evaluation of the efficacy of treatments for the dimensional stabilisation of waterlogged archaeological wood

Abstract The aim of the work is to set up a methodological approach to verify the effectiveness of the treatments of decayed waterlogged archaeological wood and to point out the proper thermo-hygrometric conditions for its preservation after treatment. The treatments were performed on wood samples of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton), oak (Quercus sp. caducifolia), elm (Ulmus cf. minor) and strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), obtained from stems pertaining to the original vegetation found in the excavation site of the Ancient Ships in Pisa (Italy), and dated from seventh century BC to second century AD The utilised products were: Polyethylene Glycols (PEG) of various molecular weights, a…

Ion pair association in isodielectric mixtures at 25�C

Conductance measurements of potassium perchlorate and iodide have been carried out on the following mixtures: methanol-ethylene carbonate, acetone-ethylene carbonate, acetonitrile-ethylene carbonate, sulfolane-ethylene carbonate, isodielectric with water; and in benzene-sulfolane, benzene-acetonitrile, ethanol-sulfolane, isodielectric with methanol. The extent of ionic association at a given concentration in two solvents of the same dielectric constant is greater in the aprotic solvent.

Molecular interactions in 1-pentanol +2-methyl-2-butanol mixtures: Static dielectric constant, viscosity and refractive index investigations at 5, 25 and 45�C

Static dielectric constants, refractive indices and viscosities of 1-pentanol +2-methyl-2-butanol mixtures were measured at 5, 25 and 45°C. The results show that the mixing of the two isomers modifies the polarizability and the resistence of viscous flow of the system depending on the composition and temperature. Short range intermolecular interactions producing hetero-alcohol open dimers are considered.

Molecular association and dynamics in n-pentanol and 2-methyl-2-butanol

Static dielectric constant, viscosity, density, ultrasonic and dielectric relaxation measurements are reported for two pentanol isomers (n-pentanol and 2-methyl-2-butanol) in a wide range of temperatures. The results show a different extent of H-bonds self-association in relation to the molecular geometry of the alcohol. The activation energies obtained from dielectric and ultrasonic studies are compared with those obtained from viscous flow. Such a comparison, together with the analysis of all the dielectric and ultrasonic relaxation data, show that in n-pentanol a correlation between viscosity and ultrasonic relaxation exists, while dielectric relaxation is not correlated with the other t…

Preliminary 1H NMR study on archaeological waterlogged wood.

Magnetic Resonance Relaxation (MRR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are powerful tools to obtain detailed information on the pore space structure that one is unlikely to obtain in other ways. These techniques are particularly suitable for Cultural Heritage materials, because they use water 1H nuclei as a probe. Interaction with water is one of the main causes of deterioration of materials. Porous structure in wood, for example, favours the penetration of water, which can carry polluting substances and promote mould growth. A particular case is waterlogged wood from underwater discoveries and moist sites; in fact, these finds are very fragile because of chemical, physical and biological…

Volumetric and transport properties of aerosol-OT reversed micelles containing light and heavy water

Densities and viscosities of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT in-heptane system containing light and heavy water, as a function of the molar ratio R (R=[H2O or D2O]/[AOT]) were measured at 0, 5, 25 and 40°C. At low R values, the apparent molar volume of deuterium oxide is smaller than that of light water. The difference is related to the strength of the hydrogen bonding H2O and D2O. The viscosities of both H2O-AOT-n-heptane and D2O-AOT-n-heptane systems were explained in terms of intermicellar interactions mainly governed by hydration of the head groups of AOT.