Phd in EARTH SCIENCES

Research: SCHeC - Sustainable Cultural Heritage Conservation: new green materials for the cleaning of artworks

Drs. Chiara Biribicchi is a Doctoral student in Earth Sciences (Environment and Cultural Heritage curriculum) at “La Sapienza” University of Rome (IT). Her research project focuses on the development of new non-polar green solvents and delivery systems to be used for cleaning interventions on polychrome works of art. The goal is to reduce the use of hazardous substances that are still widely used in the field of Heritage conservation while controlling the solvent release in the environment and on the artwork’s surface. Laboratory solubility tests that will be performed using chemicals that meet the principles of Green Chemistry and the regulation of the European Union for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH). A suitable green delivery system will be developed, and rheological and structural characterization of the system provided through oscillatory shear measurements and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The evaluation of the cleaning performances and the solvent retention in the paint layers will be conducted through the realization of artificially aged samples and the use of analytical techniques such as multispectral imaging, SEM, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR in the ATR mode), and spectrocolorimetry. Eventually, the efficiency in safely carrying out cleaning treatments and the retention in the paint layers will be assessed on actual works of art through a multi-analytical approach. The research is pursued in partnership with YOCOCU APS (YOuth in COnservation of CUltural Heritage).