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Permanent staff
Marco Orlandi, Zoia Luca, Eeva-Liisa Tolppa,
Francesco Saliu, Carmen Canevali
Graduated students and non permanent staff
Anika Salanti (post doc) |
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Research
activity
The research activity of UniMib unit will be focused on the
chemical characterization of biopolymer present in
archaeological artefacts. The analytical techniques applied will
give information on the state and the mechanisms of degradation
processes in action. Also artificial ageing (based on the use of
acids, bases, enzymes and ozone) will be used for this
investigation.
Moreover the unit will investigate new biomimetic consolidant
methodologies.
Our contribution to the project will be aimed to the following
objectives:
1) Developing of analytical procedures, and in particular:
- GPC techniques for the investigation of change in molecular
weight distribution and connectivity of the major biopolymer
fractions (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin).
- NMR techniques (1H, 13C and 31P) for the chemical
characterization of biopolymer in archaeological artefacts
trough the quantification of the different functional groups.
- HPLC-MS techniques for the characterization of minority and
with lower molecular weight components of biopolymer (polyphenols,
lipids).
The results will be integrated with the analyses of other units
in order to obtain a complete understanding of their
conservation and the mechanisms of degradation in action.
2) Developing of new biopolymer consolidation techniques that
will be biologically inspire. The units will investigate the use
of oxidative coupling of phenols as consolidant, mimic the
biosynthesis of lignin. Moreover the units will investigate the
application of nanocrystalline cellulose in wood conservation. |
