Ricerc@Sapienza

Recently the knowledge of chemical composition of pathological mineralizations is an important topicextensively studied because it could give more in-depth information to understand pathologies them-selves and to improve prevention methods.

Twenty natural spinel single crystals displaying colors almost representative for the entire spinel variability were investigated by electron microprobe and UV–VIS–NIR–MIR and FTIR spectroscopies. Eight of them, selected among the Fe-bearing ones, were also analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and five by Mössbauer spectroscopy to obtain information on the oxidation state and site distribution of Fe.

In spite of the growing interest in essential oils (EOs) and their commercial importance, it is not yet clear how development factors influence the plant material optimum harvesting period for EOs production. factors that determine the EOs' composition and yield are numerous, and in some cases, it is quite difficult to isolate them as many are interdependent and influenced by each other. Therefore, EOs chemical composition is subject to high quantitative and qualitative variations, as well as their related biological activities or properties.

Interest in utilization of renewable resources is increasing because of public's environmental awareness and economic considerations. Lignocellulosic fibres have already attracted growing attention as reinforcement of polymeric matrices instead of synthetic ones (mainly glass) from the academic and industrial fields. In addition to kenaf, hemp, sisal, flax and jute, which are the subject of extensive investigations for composite applications since the 1970s, in the last years several researchers suggested the use of less common natural fibres, due to their low cost and availability.

The aim of this work was to characterize chemical composition of the alloys and corrosion microstructures of Phoenician bronze weapons from the archaeological site of Motya (western Sicily, Italy). For this purpose, some bronze artifacts were selected and studied by the combined use of different analytical techniques, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). Moreover, X-ray maps on cross section of the artifacts were also performed to obtain information about elemental distribution in the different layers.