WEBINAR "Science for Sustainable Development"

Dr Silvana De Iuliis ICMATE Milan

Pollutant measurements via optical diagnostics

Dr Luca Nodari ICMATE Padova

The impact of indoor environmental conditions on the deterioration of materials in Modern and Contemporary Art

Pollutant measurements via optical diagnostics

The study of air pollutants present in air particulate matter and resulting from anthropogenic activties is receiving particular attention due to their effects on human health and the environment. In this context, the development of diagnostic tools capable of monitoring the concentration of pollutants is of primary importance. In particular, optical/laser techniques are suitable tools for in-situ and real-time measurements of pollutant particle concentration, such as carbon nanoparticles and heavy metals. Carbon nanoparticles, generated by combustion processes as soot particles, are released in the atmosphere, where they undergo several chemical-physical processes. The black carbon obtained in these processes is considered as a key pollutant responsible for global climate change. In addition, heavy metals are of significant impact for their toxicity. To measure these pollutants, two techniques have been developed, namely Laser-Induced Incandesce  technique for carbon nanoparticles and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for heavy metals detection. First, the basics of the two techniques are presented, emphasizing the main differences in the laser-particle interaction under analysis. Then, the prototypes for carbon nanoparticles and metal concentration measurements developed in our laboratory in Milano are presented together with some peculiar applications. Finally, the possible use for monitoring indoor air quality is discussed.

SilvanaDeIuliis(cotutele PhD in Energy at Orleans University/Politecnico di Milano, cumlaude) is lead researcher for the Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostics in innovative Material, Energy and Environment at ICMATE Milan. The activity is focused in the development and application of optical techniques for the study of pollutant nano particles detected at the exhaust of combustion systems and in the ambient air.

The impact of indoor environmental conditions on the deterioration of materials in Modern and Contemporary Art

The multi disciplinary endeavor to safeguard human-made creations underscores the crucial role of understanding the physico-chemical nature of constituent materials. A comprehensive analysis of these materials facilitates insight into their interactions with the environment, encompassing their responses to the indoor environment (e.g.,light exposure,relative humidity, RH, and interaction with volatile organic compounds, VOCs). While protocols for preserving historical objects and art works are established, the conservation of Modern and Contemporary art poses an ongoing challenge. The presented study focuses on the impact of light, RH and VOCs on the alteration of different modern and contemporary artistic substrates. Particular attention will be given to the understanding of the evolution of the considered system during accelerate ageing experiments of artworks’replicas. For instance, the effect of specific inorganic fillers on the transformation of organic binder will be presented and discussed. Additionally, the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on coated metallic substrates will be also illustrated, high lighting the importance of good conservation practices.

LucaNodari,Ph.D.(2004),is a research scientist atCNR-ICMATE since 2012, specializing in inorganic materials using advanced techniques likemicro-infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy and Mössbauers pectroscopy. His primary focus is on the characterization of modern painting materials, particularly the formation of metal carboxylates, with additional interests in applying Mössbauer spectroscopy to catalysis science and mineralogy.