High performance liquid chromatography as a micro-destructive technique for the identification of anthraquinone red dyestuffs in cultural heritage objects

Abstract This article describes two of the most common natural sources red anthraquinones that have been used since antiquity for textile dyeing and as lake pigments, namely cochineal insect roots Rubia Relbunium plants. Carminic acid is main component carmine, colorant obtained from cochineal. Alizarin purpurin are found in extracts roots, but contain only purpurin. These identified a variety cultural heritage objects. High performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) described suitable analytical technique identification these dyestuffs, particularly micro-samples textiles or pigment layers paintings polychrome sculptures. Finally, application HPLC-DAD analysis to pigments mural eighteenth century Andean churches Peru described.