Opening new possibilities for the analysis of verdigris!
Researchers from the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana have published a new study exploring the behaviour of copper(II) acetate on a fundamental level using desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS).
The analytical study “Solvent effects on the ion formation and fragmentation behaviour of copper(II) acetate in desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry” by Špela Pok, Irena Kralj Cigić, Matija Strlič and Tjaša Rijavec focuses on understanding how different solvents influence the analysis of copper(II) acetate. Establishing how the compound responds to the measurement conditions is an important step towards developing DESI-MS for the analysis of verdigris and other copper-containing pigments encountered in cultural heritage.
DESI-MS is a new analytical technique available at the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana, opening new possibilities for the investigation of cultural heritage materials. The technique allows researchers to perform mass spectrometry imaging directly from surfaces in ambient environments with minimal to no sample preparation, making it particularly interesting for the study of heritage objects.
Read the full article: Š. Pok, I. Kralj Cigić, M. Strlič, T. Rijavec: Solvent effects on the ion formation and fragmentation behaviour of copper(II) acetate in desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, Microchemical Journal 226 (2026) 226118456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2026.118456
