Analyser spots poisons in museum samples
A
Niton UK product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Aug 21, 2003
A novel X-ray fluorescent analyser has been used by the University of Aberdeen to identify poisonous pigments in original William Morris pattern wallpapers held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
A Niton XLt 700 Series portable X-ray fluorescent nondestructive environmental analyser has been used by the University of Aberdeen to identify poisonous pigments in original William Morris pattern wallpapers held at the Victoria and Albert Museum London.
Professor Andy Meharg, a scientist at the University of Aberdeen Department of Plant and Soil Science has discovered that William Morris - the well known poet, artist, designer and progenitor of the green movement - used a number of toxic chemicals to create many of his beautiful decorative schemes and famous wallpapers.
Using the very latest handheld X-ray analyser technology supplied by Niton UK, Professor Meharg examined the coloured pigments in many early samples and found them to contain high quantities of several toxic chemicals such as arsenic, lead, chromium and mercury.
Professor Meharg explained: "We needed to test the wallpaper samples without damaging them, XRF technology allowed us to do this.
The Niton portable handheld instrument allowed us to perform tests at different locations rather than removing samples, and offered immediate and accurate results".
"Initially we were surprised to receive a call from the University of Aberdeen looking to use an X-ray analyser to test wallpaper samples, but the principles were the same as for any environmental analysis and we knew it would prove very helpful to Professor Meharg's research".
said Michael Sibbald, Niton UK Sales Director.
The Niton XLt 700 series environmental analyser has a simple point and shoot operation that uses an X-ray tube to produce a non-destructive test on a sample.
More often used as an on-site analysis instrument for pre-lab screening of soils, sludges and wastes, it showed great versatility as Professor Meharg made a large number of tests on a variety of different wallpapers for his research.
The XLt700 is recognised as the easiest to use, most ergonomic and accurate portable X-ray fluorescent analyser available.
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