Infusion mass spectrometry as a fingerprint to characterize varnishes in oil pictorial artworks.

Mass spectrometry methodology to characterize drying oil used as binding media and varnishes in pictorial artworks, prior to conservation or restoration treatment, is proposed. The analytical treatment requires prior basic hydrolysis of the samples to release the fatty acids : caprylic, pelargonic, capric, sebacic, azelaic, suberic, eicosanoic, lauric, mirystic, palmitic, linolenic, linoleic, oleic and stearic, followed by separation from the matrix by a hexane/water extraction. After removing the solvent, the remaining solid is dissolved in potassium hydroxide, propanol and methanol. The mixture is directly infused into a mass spectrometer without any previous derivatization or separation …