Optimizing museum construction material selection through mass spectrometry analysis

Assessing the suitability of display case construction materials is crucial to prevent museum object damage. This study evaluates three mass spectrometry (MS) approaches, HS-SPME-trap-enrichment-GC-MS, DTD-GC-MS, and DART-HRMS, for analysing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from exhibition and storage materials. Results were compared with the Oddy test, which assesses material corrosivity. HS-SPME-trap-enrichment improved sensitivity for detecting low-abundance corrosive volatiles, such as acetic acid, while DTD offered broader chemical profiling. Correlations between acetic acid emissions and lead corrosion in Oddy tests suggest GC-MS-based methods can predict material corrosivity. DART-HRMS effectively confirms specific additives, while GC-MS shows potential to serve as a screening tool for material classification. Though MS techniques provide faster analysis and detailed chemical insights than the Oddy test, they require a higher level of knowledge for data interpretation. With further refinement, MS approaches could complement to traditional corrosion testing, offering an efficient screening tool for evaluating materials used in conservation.