Iron gall

For identification of the iron gall inks, one must consider that the visibility of iron gall texts and drawings dramatically decreases in the IR band. On the other hand, carbon based inks absorb IR light, thus giving enhanced readability in the IR image (see figure 11). 

R. D Agata, G. Grasso, S. Parlato, S. Simone, and G. Spoto, The Use of Atmospheric Pressure Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry for the Study of Iron gall Ink, Appl. Phys. A, 89, 91 95 (2007). 

Manuscripts Shop. Four restorers devote their time to the restoration of what amounts to single leaves of paper or one folded to make a double leaf the majority of artifacts are from the era prior to the mid eighteenth century. Setting aside the damage done by man, most of the deterioration encountered is caused by fungoid and insect attack in the case of manuscripts, the damage from the acid in iron-gall inks is particularly serious. 

Eiey, Margaret, "The Deacidification and Stabilization of Iron Gall Inks - Cellulose Gonbinations on Paper," a... 

A kind of ink called iron gall ink is made from tannic acid, iron(ll) sulfate, gum arabic, and water. The recipe for this ink has been known since the Middle Ages. It is used for important documents because it does not wear away easily. 

The other type of ink used historically is called iron gall. The iron was usually added in the form of iron sulfate (Fe +S04 ") gall refers to gallotannic acid that was extracted... 

Uses Sequestrant in wine and vinegar prod. calcium source in pharmaceuticals and nutrition source of phytic acid and its salts treatment for iron-gall ink corrosion in colloids for diagnostic pharmaceuticals (liver/spleen imaging)... 

Lithium oxidized polyethylene Polyethylene Polyethylene, high-density ink additive, lithographic Sodium 2-ethyl hexanoate ink corrosion treatment, iron-gall Calcium phytate ink mfg. 

Schonbohm, D., Blither, A., Banik, G. (2004). Enzymes in solvent conditioned poultices for the removal of starch-based adhesives from iron gall ink corroded manuscripts. Restaurator, 25(4), 267-281. 

Conversion electron Mbssbauer spectroscopy (CEMS 30 mCi Co(Rh)) was used for the quantitation of Fe +/Fe + in ancient manuscripts written with iron-gall ink [875]. 

LA-ICP-MS has allowed semiquantitative determination of trace elements in PVDF [91]. The technique has also been applied to investigate iron gall ink corrosion of written heritage [90a] and for forensic discrimination of automotive glass, as based on concentration estimates of 16 elements [92], and automotive paints [92a]. UV-LA-ICP-DRC-QMS (193 nm, 80 mJ) has been employed for routine QC purposes for the analysis of dopants and contaminants (1 min. simultaneous screening of... 

Other application areas of non-destmctive /uXRF are in forensic science (spectral fingerprint), microelectronics (uniformity of deposited films - thickness and composition), and in art and archaeology (especially using handheld equipment). Historic iron gall inks used in handwritten manuscripts by Bach, Mozart and Goethe were characterised by /U.XRF [759]. The technique has developed into a significant analytical tool for authentication studies of artefacts. 

Solutions of iron(III) sulfate will readily react with tannins to form dark brown-black compounds, a process which underlies the use of so-called iron-gall inks. 

Wilke M, Hahn O, Woodland AB, Rickers K. The oxidation state of iron detemuned by Ee K-edge XANES—apphcation to iron gall ink in historical manuscripts. J Anal At Spectrom 2009 24 1364-1372. 

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