This book reports a series of electrochemical experiments where copper was corroded in the presence of various organic substances. Combining data from spectroscopy techniques, X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry (including proteomics) the experiments demonstrate that copper-organic complexes can be formed during the corrosion of copper. The low solubility of copper-organic complexes in organic solvents and their amorphous nature mean that these compounds cannot be easily detected by one single analytical technique. This book benefits researchers investigating the presence of organic residues in archaeological copper corrosion and copper-organic complexes in art, where sampling is often subject to curatorial constraints.

Dr Luciana da Costa Carvalho obtained her Ph.D. in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Oxford where she investigated copper-organic complexes and organic residues trapped in archaeological copper corrosion. She used a multi-analytical protocol for characterization of samples that included FT-IR, Raman, XRD, XPS, and mass spectrometry techniques including bottom-up proteomics. Dr Luciana da Costa Carvalho has been trained as a museum and archaeological conservator at the University College London (UCL) and holds qualifications in environment and economic development, and Egyptology and chemistry. Recently, she was awarded the Boroll Prize at the 41st British Mass Spectrometry Society Annual Meeting held at Sheffield University for best flash oral presentation of the identification of honey in a 530-510BC residue found in a copper jar.