Alkyd paints in art: Characterization using integrated mass spectrometry

• We characterized commercial alkyd paints used in contemporary art.
• We used a multi-analytical approach based on mass spectrometry.
• We present the first application of TAGs profiling by HPLC–ESI-Q-ToF to alkyd paints.
• FIA-ESI-Q-ToF was tested for the first time for the analysis of alkyd paints.

Alkyd resins have been commonly used as binders in artist paints since the 1940s. The characterization of alkyds in samples from artworks can help to solve attribution and dating issues, investigate decay processes, and contribute to the planning of conservation strategies. Being able to assess the components of industrially formulated paint materials and to differentiate between different trademarks and producers is extremely interesting and requires multi-analytical approaches.In this paper we describe the characterization of commercial alkyd paint materials using a multi-analytical approach based on the integration of three different mass spectrometric techniques: gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with a tandem quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer (HPLC–ESI-Q-ToF), and flow injection analysis (FIA) in the ESI-Q-ToF mass spectrometer.GC/MS was successful in determining the fatty acid and aromatic fractions of the resins after hydrolysis; HPLC–ESI-Q-ToF analysis enabled us to identify the triglycerides (TAGs) and diglycerides (DAGs) profile of each resin, and FIA analysis was used as a rapid method to evaluate the presence of possible additives such as synthetic polymers.

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