New criteria for the characterization of traditional East Asian papers

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2017-01, Vol.24 (3), p.2166-2181
• Main Authors: Avataneo, Chiara, Sablier, Michel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Aquatic Pollution; Archaeology; Art and art history; Art and Cultural Heritage; Artefacts; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Broussonetia; Chemical Sciences; Criteria; Cultural heritage; Cultural resources; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fibers; Fingerprints; Gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Historic artifacts; Humanities and Social Sciences; Investigations; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Papermaking; Plant fibers; Plant species; Plants (botany); Pyrolysis; Terpenes; Vegetable fibers; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Wikstroemia
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6545-0

We report a pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method capable of analyzing traditional East Asian papers. The method proposed is based on rapid and easy single step Py-GC/MS analysis that can be carried out with a minimum amount of matter, in the few microgram range. Three reference papers manufactured from kozo ( Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold & Zucc.), mitsumata ( Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl.), and gampi ( Wikstroemia sikokiana Franch. & Sav.) with the traditional hand paper making processes were examined. The method allows discrimination between terpenic and steroid compounds, which were revealed as chemical markers of origin of the plant fibers. Each paper investigated was found to have characteristic pyrolysis fingerprints that were unique to the traditional handmade paper, demonstrating the potential for differentiation of these biochemical components of fiber plants on East Asian papers towards identification and conservation of cultural heritage. The investigation on Py-GC/MS was extended to liquid extraction followed by GC/MS analysis to characterize the biochemical components of fiber plants. The main contribution of this study is to provide molecular criteria for discriminating plant species used for traditional East Asian hand papermaking. Py-GC/MS complements efficiently microscope identification especially for adverse cases. A case study of archaeological Chinese paper painting artefacts was thereafter successfully investigated to address informative potential and efficiency of the criteria of identification on ancient and degraded East Asian paperworks.