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Review

Applications and Challenges of Modern Analytical Techniques for the Identification of Plant Gum in the Polychrome Cultural Heritage

1
School of Arts, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
2
Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry Uni-varsity, Nanjing 210037, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Coatings 2025, 15(9), 1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091042
Submission received: 14 July 2025 / Revised: 27 August 2025 / Accepted: 4 September 2025 / Published: 5 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)

Abstract

Plant gums have long served as essential binding media in polychrome cultural heritage, contributing to pigment adhesion, surface cohesion, and long-term stability. This review evaluates recent advances in analytical technologies, including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF MS, hyperspectral imaging, and immunological assays, for the identification of gums such as gum arabic, peach gum, and tragacanth in diverse cultural contexts. Drawing on case studies from 19th-century watercolours, ancient Egyptian coffins, and Maya murals, the paper demonstrates how these methods enable precise chemical characterization even in complex, aged, and mineral-rich matrices. Such information directly aids conservators in selecting compatible restoration materials, tailoring treatment protocols, and assessing deterioration mechanisms. Persistent challenges remain, including gum degradation, spectral interference from pigments and restoration materials, sample heterogeneity, and limited reference libraries, particularly for non-European species. Future research directions emphasize multi-modal, non-invasive workflows that integrate hyperspectral imaging with spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, drone-assisted micro-Raman for inaccessible surfaces, machine learning-assisted spectral databases, and bio-inspired adhesives replicating historical rheology. By linking molecular identification to conservation decision-making, plant gum analysis not only deepens our understanding of historical material practices but also strengthens the scientific basis for sustainable heritage preservation strategies.
Keywords: plant gums; polychrome cultural heritage; binding media identification; analytical techniques; watercolours; conservation science plant gums; polychrome cultural heritage; binding media identification; analytical techniques; watercolours; conservation science

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MDPI and ACS Style

Xu, L.; Zhu, W.; Chen, X.; Liu, X. Applications and Challenges of Modern Analytical Techniques for the Identification of Plant Gum in the Polychrome Cultural Heritage. Coatings 2025, 15, 1042. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091042

AMA Style

Xu L, Zhu W, Chen X, Liu X. Applications and Challenges of Modern Analytical Techniques for the Identification of Plant Gum in the Polychrome Cultural Heritage. Coatings. 2025; 15(9):1042. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091042

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xu, Liang, Weijia Zhu, Xi Chen, and Xinyou Liu. 2025. "Applications and Challenges of Modern Analytical Techniques for the Identification of Plant Gum in the Polychrome Cultural Heritage" Coatings 15, no. 9: 1042. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091042

APA Style

Xu, L., Zhu, W., Chen, X., & Liu, X. (2025). Applications and Challenges of Modern Analytical Techniques for the Identification of Plant Gum in the Polychrome Cultural Heritage. Coatings, 15(9), 1042. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091042

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