Characterisation of the rare cadmium chromate pigment in a 19th century tube colour by Raman, FTIR, X-ray and EPR.

In an investigation of the artists' materials used by P. S. Krøyer the contents of the tube colours found in Krøyer's painting cabinet were examined.

Raman analysis of complex pigment mixtures in 20th century metal knight shields of the Order of the Elephant.

The pigment composition of six painted metal knight shields of the Order of the Elephant dating from the second half of the 20th century belonging to the Danish royal collection were studied using Raman microscopy. By focusing a 785 nm laser with a 50× objective on particles in paint cross sections, it was possible to identify the following 20 compounds: hematite, goethite, chrome red/orange, chrome yellow, zinc chrome yellow, carbon black, toluidine red PR3, chlorinated para red PR4, dinitroaniline orange PO5, phthalocyanine blue PB15, indanthrone blue PB60, ultramarine, Prussian blue, lead white, anatase, rutile, calcium carbonate, barium sulphate, gypsum and dolomite. The components were frequently present in complex pigment mixtures.

Enzymatic maceration of bone: a gentler technique than boiling.

This proof of concept study investigates the removal of soft tissue from human ribs with the use of two common methods: boiling with a laundry detergent and using enzymes. Six individuals were autopsied, and one rib from each individual was removed for testing. Each rib was cut into pieces and afterwards macerated by one of the two methods.

Magnetic interactions through fluoride: magnetic and spectroscopic characterization of discrete, linearly bridged [Mn(III)2(μ-F)F4(Me3tacn)2](PF6).

The nature of the magnetic interaction through fluoride in a simple, dinuclear manganese(III) complex (1), bridged by a single fluoride ion in a perfectly linear fashion, is established by experiment and density functional theory. The magnitude of the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and the manganese(III) zero-field-splitting parameters are unambiguously determined by inelastic neutron scattering to yield J = 33.0(2) cm(-1) (Ĥ = JŜ1·Ŝ2 Hamiltonian definition) and single-ion D = -4.

Analytical study of modern paint layers on metal knight shields: the use and effect of titanium white.

Painted metal knight shields of the Order of the Elephant produced during the last part of the 20th century are characterized by a striking variety in their conservation state. Three different coat systems were identified and investigated by Fourier transform infrared microscopy (μ-FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS), scanning electron microscopy-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation-gas chromatography-mass Spectrometry (THM-GC-MS). Chalking of the white paint layer on the first group of knight shields displayed in the window niches was found to be related to the use of titanium white of the anatase type.

A fast preparation of skeletal materials using enzyme maceration.

The current study investigates the removal of soft tissues from mice and rats by the use of three different proteases and one lipase from Novozymes A/S. The results demonstrate the enzyme maceration to be remarkably fast (1-3 h) compared to the traditional warm-water procedure, which requires up to several days. In addition, the enzyme maceration eliminates the odor problem associated with the traditional procedure.