46075 - Interactions Between Pollutants and Cultural Heritage

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will have a basic knowledge about the decay processes of the main classes of outdoor and indoor Cultural Heritage, with particular attention to the chemical decay phenomena induced by pollutants. He will also know the main techniques/methodologies for studying degradation mechanisms and for controlling environmental conditions, in a restoration and conservation perspective

Course contents

Course contents

• Introduction

Presentation of the course and methods of examination. Cultural Heritage: definitions and norms. Main classes of materials constituting outdoor and indoor artefacts and built heritage. "Life Cycle" of a Cultural Heritage.

(estimated time spent in the classroom: ~ 4h)

• Material-environment system and Decay factors/processes

Material-environment system, concepts of decay and durability of materials, climate and microclimate. Decay factors (anthropic, physical, biological and chemical) and processes; their interaction.

Main aggressive outdoor and indoor chemical species (e.g. sulfur and nitrogen compounds, inorganic and organic acids, oxidizing species, volatile organic compounds, atmospheric particulate matter, soluble salts) and degradation mechanisms induced by them depending on the type of material and on the exposure conditions.

Relationship between indoor and outdoor environment.

(estimated time spent in the classroom: ~ 17h)

• Investigation and monitoring

Methodologies for studying the decay of materials. Dosage-response functions and definition of acceptable limits for pollutants as regards Cultural Heritage. Monitoring and control of the exposure environment.

Brief overview on diagnostics, restoration and conservation of a Cultural Heritage. Sampling and non-destructive, micro-destructive and destructive analysis. Main diagnostic techniques.

(estimated time spent in the classroom: ~ 5h)

• Educational Activities

Deepening activities on specific topics of interest, carried out by individuals or groups of two students, under the guidance of the teacher. Educational visits. Periodic self-assessment/review activities.

(estimated time spent in the classroom and outdoor: ~ 10h)

 

Prerequisites

Dimensional formulae and physical units. (Course: Physics)

Classification of inorganic compounds. Chemical reactions and their balance. Perfect gas status equation. Gas mixtures. Partial pressures. Equilibria and concentrations in solution. Ionic water product. pH. Strong and weak acids and bases. Hydrolysis of salts. Solubility of ionic solids. Free energy and spontaneity of a chemical reaction. The chemical bond. Oxidation number. Status Charts. (Formative Activity: General Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory)

States of matter. Electrochemistry. Galvanic cells and electrolytic cells. Reduction reactions. Definition of anode and cathode. (Formative activity: Physical Chemistry)

Classification, structure and reactivity of the main functional groups and classes of organic compounds. (Training activity: Organic Chemistry I with laboratory)

Redox balance, precipitation equilibrium. Solubility and pH. Titrations. (Formative activity: Analytical chemistry with laboratory)

Principal spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. (Training activity: Instrumental Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory)

Structure and chemical-physical characteristics of the atmosphere. Sources, reactions and effects of the main inorganic and organic compounds in the troposphere. Removal of atmospheric pollutants. Acid rain. Composition and chemical properties of water and soil. Main causes and methods of environmental contamination of natural and anthropogenic origin. (Training activity: Environmental Chemistry)

Pollutants: definition, dispersion in the atmosphere and environmental distribution, sampling and analysis. (Training activity: Waste Management and Pollution Control with laboratory)

Readings/Bibliography

Fundamental

- Teaching material made available online by the teacher on the Platform "Insegnamenti OnLine" – IOL (https://iol.unibo.it ). The teaching material is available to the students enrolled in the course on the Platform "Insegnamenti OnLine" – IOL (https://iol.unibo.it ). Any passwords necessary to access the documents will be provided by the teacher.

- Lecture notes

Recommended

Although recommended to the students for widening their knowledge of the various topics, these books are not formally adopted as textbooks nor followed in a detailed way.

Campanella L. et al., Chimica per l'arte. Zanichelli Editore, 2007.

Camuffo D., Microclimate for Cultural Heritage 2nd Edition -Conservation, Restoration, and Maintenance of Indoor and Outdoor Monuments, Elsevier science, 2013

Brimblecombe P., The effect of air pollution on the built environment. Imperial College Press, 2003.

Chiantore O., Rava A., Conservare L'arte Contemporanea Problemi, metodi, materiali, ricerche. Electa Editore, 2005.

Hatchfield P. B., Pollutants in the museum environment: practical strategies for problem solving in design, exhibition and storage, Archetype publications, 2002.

Matteini M., Moles A., Scienza e restauro: metodi d'indagine. Nardini Editore, Firenze, 2003.

M. Matteini, A. Moles. La Chimica nel Restauro: I Materiali dell'Arte Pittorica. Nardini Editore, Firenze, 1989.

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson with support of PC presentations, videos, and schemes/reactions drawn on the blackboard. Topics are also illustrated through the presentation of case studies.

Periodic interactive sessions of self-evaluation and review also through the support of free apps for smartphones.

Deepening activities by individual students or groups of two of them, under the guidance of the teacher, are also performed.

The course can include seminars and conferences on specific subjects and/or visits to external sites (e.g. monuments, laboratories, museum).

The frequency of the lessons plays an important role in understanding the issues addressed, their interconnection and environmental implications.

Assessment methods

The final examination consists in an oral interview which focuses on the themes dealt with during the course and that aims to verify the achievement of the following learning outcomes:

- knowledge of the main classes of materials constituting the cultural heritage and of the main causes and mechanisms of their degradation

- knowing and evaluating in advance the possible influence of pollutants and environmental conditions on the degradation of cultural goods (outdoor and indoor)

- knowledge of the main techniques/methodologies for the study of degradation mechanisms, for the diagnosis and monitoring of the cultural heritage and for the control of environmental conditions, in a prospect of restoration and preservation.

During the interview, in addition to questions about the program, results of researches or activities eventually performed by the student during the course could be also discussed.

The relevance, completeness and clarity of the response, the ability to synthesize (where required), the achievement of an organic and critical vision of the issues addressed and the use of a proper scientific language will be positively evaluated. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths; at least 18 points have to be obtained to pass the exam, laude is given to exams very well performed.

During the test it is not allowed the use books or lecture notes.

In order to attend the examination, it is necessary to enter one's name in the list through AlmaEsami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/) before the deadline (visible under “Exam sessions” in the Teaching page of the teacher website).

Teaching tools

PC and projector, blackboard, Moodle Learning Platform "Insegnamenti OnLine", free Apps for Smartphones.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Bernardi