Application of solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the detection of active moulds on historical objects

Abstract

The main purpose of these studies was to assess the possibility of applying the technique of solid phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) to detect the activity of moulds on historical objects, based on the analysis of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). The studies were performed for selected species of moulds, which were inoculated onto model samples of silk, cellulose, parchment and wool that had been prepared on microbiological medium, in vials for headspace sampling. After a few days of incubation, the MVOCs in the vials were sampled by using SPME fibre, and then they were analysed in the GC-MS system. The acquired chromatograms were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed, and it was ascertained that among the identified compounds are markers of mould activity which can be used to detect the vital mould growing on actual historic items. This usefulness of the method was additionally confirmed by analysis of MVOCs emitted by keratinolytically active mould inoculated on a sample of historical wool prepared in a Petri dish without a medium.