A moderate microsampling in Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry analysis of cultural heritage objects: a review

Abstract

Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is one of modern instrumental methods whose usage in the elemental analysis of cultural heritage objects has recently noticeably increased. The method requires almost no sample preparation and permits the direct analysis of solid samples, availing only minute amount of the material. Although they seem to be microdestructive, ablation processes remain usually within the scale acceptable for art historians, conservators, archaeologists and art curators; therefore, the capability to perform a multi-elemental, ultra trace and isotopic analysis can be introduced to studies of cultural heritage objects. The lack of appropriate matrix-matched certified reference materials or fractionation effects influencing the final quantitative results to a different extent is widely reported among the main limitations of LA-ICP-MS. Despite these constrains, LA-ICP-MS is a method that can be flexibly tuned to collect the desired elemental information and this paper brings together information about the successful application of this method in the analysis of diverse historical materials enabling researchers to build valuable knowledge about cultural heritage objects from all over the world.

Artefact Profiling: Panomics Approaches for Understanding the Materiality of Written Artefacts

“…Different laser types (solid state, e.g., Nd:Yag or gas eximer, e.g., ArF) with different wavelengths and pulse durations can be used for the ablation process, which on the one hand have an impact on the damage to the object and on the other hand on the signal intensities. Especially when analysing precious ancient artefacts, lasers with shorter wavelengths are preferable since the damage is the least (no frayed spots appear) and the ablation is efficient and fast [ 82 , 83 , 84 ]. However, the size of the artefact is limited by the ablation chamber in the currently commercially available designs.…”

“…One possibility is open and moveable ablation cells or the complete omission of a cell, i.e., the laser is used under ambient conditions. In order to ensure the exchange of air for argon, diaphragm pumps or special designs of gas exchange instruments are applied in such constructions [ 82 , 85 , 86 ]. LA-ICP-MS instruments for the analysis of historical manuscripts have in particular been used thus far to require the chemical composition of iron gall inks since the metals obtained in these colours can be catalytically active and can accelerate the degradation processes of the historical documents (see Section 6.2 ) [ 36 , 87 ].…”

“…However, this step requires comparatively large sample volumes, which is why laser ablation methods have been developed. These are directly coupled with ICP-MS instruments, which means that wet-chemical digestion can be omitted [ 44 , 82 ].…”