In situ polymerisation of isoeugenol as a green consolidation method for waterlogged archaeological wood

Waterlogged archaeological wood is often in need of consolidation prior to drying to prevent shrinkage and cracking of the object. There is a need for new greener materials (than for example polyethylene glycol) and methods for consolidation to be developed. The use of wood-based components could pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2017-04, Vol.7 (1), p.46481-46481, Article 46481
Main Authors: McHale, Emily, Steindal, Calin C., Kutzke, Hartmut, Benneche, Tore, Harding, Stephen E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/61/54
639/301/54
Drying
Fossil fuels
Fourier transforms
Humanities and Social Sciences
Infrared spectroscopy
Isoeugenol
Lignin
multidisciplinary
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Peroxidase
Polyethylene glycol
Science
Spectroscopy
Spectrum analysis
Ultracentrifugation
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Summary:Waterlogged archaeological wood is often in need of consolidation prior to drying to prevent shrinkage and cracking of the object. There is a need for new greener materials (than for example polyethylene glycol) and methods for consolidation to be developed. The use of wood-based components could provide good interaction between the consolidant and the remaining wood structure and would also support a shift away from fossil fuel-based materials to those with more sustainable sources. Based on this, lignin-like structures have been investigated for their ability to consolidate waterlogged archaeological wood. The in situ formation of a lignin-like material has been carried out using isoeugenol polymerised by horse radish peroxidase in aqueous solution. The formation of the oligomeric/polymeric materials within the wood following this reaction has been determined by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infra Red (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The oligomers remaining in solution have been characterised by ATR-FTIR and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as well as analytical ultracentrifugation, showing that they have a weight average M w of 0.4–0.9 kDa and a lignin-like structure rich in the β-5′ moiety. Therefore, this approach is proposed as a basis to further develop a green consolidation method for waterlogged archaeological wood.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep46481