Multispectroscopic studies for the identification of archaeological frankincense excavated in the underground palace of Bao'en Temple, Nanjing: near infrared, midinfrared, and Raman spectroscopies

Abstract

Five resinous incense materials excavated from the underground palace of Bao'en Temple, Nanjing, were studied by a multianalytical approach of near infrared, midinfrared, and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopies. By comparing the multispectroscopic features of five specimens, these incense materials were identified to the same substance. Subsequent analysis and comparison of the ancient incense materials and three modern reference specimens were carried out, and the results indicated that the excavated incense materials were frankincense, with its major component of triterpenoids. This work performs, for the first time, a comprehensive spectroscopic study for the Chinese excavated incense materials, demonstrating that a combined use of near infrared, midinfrared, and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopies is an efficient technique to identify an excavated incense.

Evaluation of degradation in chemical compounds of wood in historical buildings using FT-IR and FT-Raman vibrational spectroscopy

“…Most of major factors in wood are present between 800 and 1800 cm -1 are individually considered as a fingerprint. Comparison of the obtained infrared spectra revealed some significant differences between the historical and fresh samples (Zhou et al 2012).…”

“…These data are in agreement with IR spectra of the samples. In-plane symmetric vibration of C-H Cellulose (Ona et al 1999, Petrou et al 2009, Shen et al 1998 967 992 CH 2 in Cellulose Cellulose (Schenzel and Fischer 2001, Wiley and Atalla 1987, Yamauchi et al 2005) 1051 Stretching vibrations of C-O and C-C Cellulose, hemicellulose (Yamauchi et al 2005) 1102 1098 Glycosidic symmetric vibrations of C-O-C Cellulose, hemicellulose (Petrou et al 2009) 1127 1122 Glycosidic symmetric vibrations of C-O-C Cellulose, hemicellulose (Petrou et al 2009) 1152 1152 Asymmetric stretch of C-O and C-C Cellulose, hemicellulose (Petrou et al 2009(Petrou et al ) 1275 Stretching vibrations of C-O in guaiacyl ring and wagging of OH and CH Lignin, Cellulose, hemicellulose (Shen et al 1998, Yang et al 1999) 1335 Absorption related to syringyl ring and stretch of C-O Lignin (Zhou et al 2012(Zhou et al ) 1378 Stretch of C-H and wagging of OH and CH Cellulose, hemicellulose (Petrou et al 2009, Socrates 2004) 1464 Asymmetric bending of CH 3 in methoxyl groups Lignin (Ona et al 1999, Yang et al 1999) 1602 Stretching vibrations of aromatic C=C structure Lignin (Ji et al 2013, Kihara et al 2002, Petrou et al 2009, Shen et al 1998, Yang et al 1999) 1662 Stretching vibrations of conjugated C=O Lignin (Kihara et al 2002, Ona et al 1999, Petrou et al 2009…”

Recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy. Part VII

“…The results are discussed in terms of the glass production origin of the beads . Zhou and co‐workers carried out multispectroscopic studies for the identification of archeological frankincense excavated in the underground palace of Baoen Temple, Nanjing by using near IR, mid‐IR, and Raman spectroscopies . Zuluaga and co‐workers classified glazed potteries from Christian and Muslim territories (Late Medieval Ages, 9th–13th centuries) by MRS …”