title: Direct chemolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for analysis of paint materials.
abstract: A novel direct method using (m-trifluoromethylphenyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide (TFTMAH) has been developed for on-line (trans)esterification of lipidic materials (drying oils, egg) prior to GC-MS analysis. The method was first optimised by comparing three N-methylammonium hydroxide reagents (TMAH, PhTMAH, TFTMAH) and triolein as a lipid standard. Secondly, the procedure was tested on a series of fresh and naturally aged (up to 40 years) (un)pigmented drying oils and egg yolk reference film standards. Thirdly, the method was applied to the analysis of a sample from an altar painting "Resurrection of Christ" by Francesco Solimena (1723) from the Chapel of Upper Belvedere in Vienna. The relative proportions of the fatty acids from the translucent size layer confirm the presence of partially degraded oil, probably prepolymerised walnut oil.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemical Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, UK. vaclav.pitthard@khm.at
authors.forename: Václav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pitthard
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bayerová