Electrochemistry of natural pigments and their host-guest complexes

Abstract:
The proposed electrochemical study is focused on selected compounds containing chromophores and on their interactions with natural substrates and stabilizing agents. The changes of artwork caused by the ageing processes have accelerated not long ago due to the presence of air pollutants. The mechanism of degradation of colorants used in old textiles, the stability of intermediates and decomposition products is one of the main project aims. The degradation products formed during the ageing process can be used as fingerprints for the determination of the original materials used as colorants of artwork. Suggested electrochemical studies focused on the oxidative degradation are indispensable within the framework of the European Programme of the cultural heritage preservation.