Mössbauer spectrometry applied to the study of laboratory samples made of iron gall ink

Iron gall inks consist of a mixture of vitriol, gall nut extracts and gum arabic. The association of the iron(II) sulphate present in vitriols, and the carboxyphenolic acids present in gall nut extracts leads to the formation of dark coloured iron-based precipitates. In order to evaluate the percentage of iron used in the formation of these precipitates, transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) measurements were performed on laboratory made inks at room temperature. These were completed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy measurements. The samples consisted of several solutions of iron(II) sulphate, gallic acid and gum arabic. After evaporation, the residues were analysed. Up to eight different Mössbauer signatures were detected, most of them correlated to iron sulphates. The Mössbauer signature of the iron gall precipitate was also isolated. It is not distinctly defined and may overlap with the signatures of iron(III) hydroxy-sulphates, such as jarosite or copiapite. Raman spectrometry then proved to be a useful complementary technique for the identification of the precipitate

Cellulose/iron oxide hybrids as multifunctional pigments in thermoplastic starch based materials

Cellulose/iron oxide hybrids were prepared by the controlled hydrolysis of FeC2O4 in the presence of vegetable and bacterial cellulose fibres as substrates. By varying the relative amount of FeC2O4 and NaOH, either hematite or magnetic iron oxides were grown at the cellulose fibres surfaces. This chemical strategy was used for the production of a number of materials, whose coloristic properties associated to their reinforcement role allowed their use as new hybrid pigments for thermoplastic starch (TPS) based products. The TPS reinforced materials were characterized by several techniques in order to evaluate: the morphology and the compatibility between the matrix and the fillers; the mechanical reinforcement effect of the cellulose/iron oxide pigments on TPS and the coloristic properties of the composites. All materials showed good dispersion and strong adhesion for the cellulose/iron oxide nanocomposites in the TPS matrix thus resulting in improved mechanical properties