Forensic Art Analysis Using Novel Reflectance Spectroscopy and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 14 Issue 4 (2008) pp 150-154

Forensic Art Analysis Using Novel Reflectance Spectroscopy and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation

Murphy G. Brasuel, Alexis D. McCarter, and Nathan W. Bower*

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, NBower@ColoradoCollege.edu

Published online: 22 December 2009

Abstract. Questions about faked artwork today provide a useful context for introducing analytical methods in both non-science and chemistry major courses. Instrumental multivariate analyses are ubiquitous in chemistry, but time or budget constraints often leave students with inadequate “real” data sets. A set of experiments are presented that use non-destructive, optic-fiber reflectance spectrometers and a novel, low cost pyrolysis interface for chromatography or spectroscopy. Its application to the analysis of works of art is described here for the first time.

Key Words: Of Special Interest; general chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: NBower@ColoradoCollege.edu)

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Supporting Materials:

Additional supporting files are available. A laboratory handout out for students and instructors are included (1.6 MB)