Determination of Formic and Acetic Acid in the Interior Atmosphere of Display Cases and Cabinets in Athens Museums by Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Formic and acetic acid levels were determined in 15 display cases and 5 cabinets of the National Archaeological Museum and the Numismatic Museum of Athens after both active and passive sampling. Low volume air samplers with solid sorbent silica gel tubes and activated charcoal personal passive samplers were used.

The organic acids were analysed by Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography with phosphate buffer (pH = 2.5) as the mobile phase and UV detection at 210nm. Formic acid concentrations in display cases and cabinets ranged from 0.03 to 0.18mg·m⁻³, and acetic acid concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 2.42mg·m⁻³.

Keywords

Organic acids Corrosion Artifacts Active sampling Passive sampling

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