Asian Organic Colorants

New findings on traditional Asian organic colorants, including a strategy for analysis and databases for professionals

Project Details

About

Goal

The Asian Organic Colorants project sought to develop a strategy for analysis of traditional Chinese organic colorants used as textile dyes and organic pigments in Chinese wall paintings and for analysis of organic colorants used as textile dyes and organic pigments in Asia. Detection and identification of these has long been challenging, as many of the biological sources used to create them have not been well studied and the organic paints concentrations are low.

Outcomes

  • Library of Ultraviolet-Visual (UV-Vis) spectra for color-contributing components
  • Electro-Spray Ionization—Negative Ion Mode (ESI-NIM) mass spectra database of the same diagnostic components of organic colorants including both MS and MS-MS spectra

Background

Partner

Dunhuang Academy, under China's State Administration for Cultural Heritage