EVERWIN VIDHYASHRAM

SR.SECONDARY SCHOOL

CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

“DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL PIGMENT BY THE
INTERACTION OF UV-LIGHT AND OXYGEN”

~ A.JOSHIKA
XII-FAITHFUL
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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that JOSHIKA.A of

XII-FAITHFUL has successfully completed
The CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT titled
“DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL PIGMENT BY THE
INTERACTION OF UV-LIGHT AND OXYGEN”
Under the guidance of RAJARAJESWARI.M and
submitted for the practical examination conducted by the
CBSE BOARD during the year 2024-2025

------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------

Internal examiner External examiner

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I gratefully acknowledge my sincere thanks

To our chemistry teacher
Mrs.RAJARAJESWARI.M
and our principal Mrs.VIDHYA HARI for
giving me an opportunity and to complete the
project successfully

~ A.JOSHIKA
XII-FAITHFUL

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 INDEX

 INTRODUCTION V

 UV-LIGHT VII
 What is UV-Light
 Types of UV-Light
 UVA
 UVB
 UVC

 OXYGEN X

 BENEFICIAL PURPOSES XI
 Art restoration and conservation
 Photographic Printing
 Textile Industry
 Scientific Research
 Product Testing

 OUTLINE EXPERIMENT XVI

 Aim
 Apparatus required
 Procedure
 Result
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 SAMPLE EXPERIMENT XX
 Aim
 Apparatus Required
 Procedure
 Stained cloth selection
 Preparation of sample
 Exposure setup
 Exposure to UV-light
 Observation
 Control group
 Result
 BIBLIOGRAPHY XXIII

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 INTRODUCTION

The destruction of natural pigments by

the interaction of UV (ultraviolet) light and oxygen
is a common phenomenon known as photodegradation.
This process is particularly relevant in the context
of materials exposed to sunlight, such as paintings,
textiles, and organic substances.

UV light has higher energy compared to visible

light, and this energy can disrupt the molecular
structure of pigments by breaking chemical bonds
within them. Ultraviolet rays are one of the causes
of fading because they can break down chemical
bonds and fade the color in an object. Other
major contributors to fading include visible light
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and solar heat. Some objects may be more prone to
this bleaching effect, such as dyed textiles and
watercolors.

Oxygen, especially in its reactive forms, can

further exacerbate this process by participating in
chemical reactions that degrade the pigments.
Oxidative degradation can proceed according to
two mechanisms: photo oxidation and thermal
oxidation. Photo oxidation is caused by the action
of UV light in the presence of oxygen, and due to
its limited penetration capability, it takes place
only on the surface and subsurface layers of
polymer.

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 For instance, the UV radiation can initiate
free radical reactions in pigments, leading to the
formation of highly reactive species. These
reactive species can then react with oxygen,
causing oxidative degradation of the pigment
molecules. This degradation often results in the
fading of colors, loss of vibrancy, and overall
deterioration of the material.

To mitigate this degradation, protective

measures such as UV-blocking coatings, proper
storage conditions, and limiting exposure to
sunlight are often employed, especially in the
conservation of artworks and historical artifacts.

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 UV-LIGHT

What Is UV Light?

UV light (ultraviolet light) has a wavelength between 10

and 400 nm that is shorter than the visible light but longer
than the X-rays and is a type of electromagnetic radiation.
These are present in sunlight and contribute 10% of the total
light from the sun.

Types of UV light

UV light or UV ray is classified into three components:

ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C
(UVC). Following is the table explaining the characteristics of
these components:

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 Ultraviolet A (UVA):
Most of the UV (98.7%) that reaches us on the earth’s
surface is of type UVA and is affected by the ozone
Fading of paints and dyes.
UVA causes early aging of the skin.
UVA causes skin cancer called melanoma.

Ultraviolet B (UVB):
1.3% of the UV reaches the earth’s surface and is highly
affected by ozone.
These rays are responsible for sunburn and tan.
For the production of vitamin D, 270-300 nm wavelengths are
stimulated.

Ultraviolet C (UVC):
UVC rays do not reach the earth’s surface as most of them
are absorbed by the atmospheric nitrogen, oxygen, and ozone
and the rest are scattered.
UVC causes lesions on the skin.

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 OXYGEN

Oxygen (O), nonmetallic chemical element of

Group 16 (Via, or the oxygen group) of the periodic
table. Oxygen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless
gas essential to living organisms, being taken up by
animals, which convert it to carbon dioxide; plants,
in turn, utilize carbon dioxide as a source of
carbon and return the oxygen to the atmosphere.
Oxygen forms compounds by reaction with
practically any other element, as well as by
reactions that displace elements from their
combinations with each other; in many cases, these
processes are accompanied by the evolution of
heat and light and in such cases are called
combustions. Its most important compound is
water.

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BENEFICIAL PURPOSES
(Of uv-light and oxygen)

Art Restoration and Conservation:

Understanding how natural pigments degrade

under UV light and oxygen exposure is crucial
for conservators and art restorers.
By studying these processes, conservators can
develop better methods for preserving and
restoring historical artworks. Additionally,
controlled UV exposure can be used to simulate
aging in order to predict how artworks will
Degrade over time.

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 Photographic Printing:

In the field of photography, some processes

involve using UV light to intentionally degrade
certain pigments in order to create specific
artistic effects. For example, in alternative
photographic processes like cyanotype or Van
Dyke brown printing, UV light exposure plays a
key role in developing images by chemically
altering light-sensitive pigments.

Textile Industry:

UV light exposure can be used in the textile

industry for processes like sun fading or
distressing fabrics to achieve a vintage or worn
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appearance. Controlled exposure to UV light and
oxygen can accelerate the fading of dyes and
pigments in textiles, allowing manufacturers to
achieve desired aesthetic effects.

Scientific Research:

Researchers studying the degradation of natural

pigments under UV light and oxygen can gain
insights into fundamental chemical processes.
This knowledge can be applied to various fields,
including materials science, environmental
Science and cultural heritage preservation.

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 Product Testing:

Industries that produce pigmented products

Such as paints, inks, and coatings may use UV
exposure tests to assess the durability and
longevity of their products. By subjecting
pigmented materials to accelerated UV
Degradation, manufacturers can evaluate how
Well their products withstand environmental
stressors over time.

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 OUTLINE EXPERIMENT

AIM:

An experiment to destruct natural pigments by the

interaction of UV-light and oxygen.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:

1. Natural pigmented sample (e.g., fruit peel,

vegetable slice, leaf)
2. UV light source (e.g., UV lamp)
3. Container with oxygen supply (e.g., open
container or oxygen source)
4. Protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.)
5. Analytical tools (spectrophotometer,
microscope, etc.)

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PROCEDURE:

1. Preparation of Sample:
- Choose a natural pigmented sample. This could be a
fruit peel, vegetable slice, or a leaf with visible
pigmentation.
- Cut the sample into small, uniform pieces to ensure
consistency.

2. Exposure to UV Light:
- Place the sample under the UV lamp. Ensure that
the distance between the lamp and the sample remains
constant throughout the experiment.
- Turn on the UV lamp and expose the sample to UV
light for a predetermined period. This period can vary
depending on the intensity of UV light and the nature
of the sample. It's essential to monitor the sample
closely during exposure to prevent overheating or other
damage.
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 3. Oxygen Exposure:
- Simultaneously, expose the sample to oxygen. This
can be achieved by placing the sample in an open
container or by bubbling oxygen through a solution in
which the sample is submerged. Oxygen exposure
facilitates oxidation reactions, which can help in
breaking down pigments.

4. Monitoring:
- Monitor the sample throughout the experiment.
Note any changes in color, texture, or other visible
characteristics.
- Use analytical tools such as a spectrophotometer to
measure changes in absorbance spectra over time. This
can provide quantitative data on pigment degradation.

5. Data Analysis:
- Analyze the collected data to determine the
effectiveness of UV light and oxygen in removing
natural pigments.
- Compare the absorbance spectra of the sample
before and after the experiment to assess the extent
of pigment degradation.

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 - Additionally, microscopic examination can provide
insights into structural changes in the sample due to
photodegradation.

RESULT:
The exposed samples should exhibit varying
degrees of bleaching or fading of pigmentation over
time.
The control group, shielded from UV light, should show
minimal to no change in pigment intensity.
Qualitatively describe the observed changes in each
sample and compare them to the control group.

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 SAMPLE EXPERIMENT

AIM:

To observe the bleaching effect of UV light and oxygen

on natural pigment stains on cloth.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:

 Stained cloth (preferably cotton or another natural

fabric)
 UV lamp or sunlight
 Transparent containers or Petri dishes
 Aluminum foil
 Water
 Marker or labels
 Timer or clock

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PROCEDURE:

Stained Cloth Selection:

Select a piece of cloth with natural pigment stains. These
stains could be from food, beverages, or other organic
sources.
Ensure that the stains are relatively fresh and have not been
treated with any stain removers.

Preparation of Samples:
Cut the stained cloth into equal-sized pieces or segments.
Label each segment to identify the stain and its position in
the experiment.

Exposure Setup:
Place the cloth segments in transparent containers or Petri
dishes.
Ensure that each container is labeled for identification.
Cover some containers with aluminum foil to create a control
group that won't be exposed to UV light.

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 Exposure to UV Light:
Expose the uncovered cloth segments to UV light. If using a
UV lamp, position it at an appropriate distance according to
its instructions.
Alternatively, you can place some cloth segments outdoors
under direct sunlight.

Observation:
During the exposure period, observe the cloth segments at
regular intervals (e.g., every hour).
Note any changes in the intensity or color of the stains.
Take photographs to document the changes over time.

Control Group:
Keep the covered containers (control group) in the same
environment but shielded from UV light exposure.

RESULT:
The exposed cloth segments should exhibit varying
degrees of bleaching or fading of the stains over time.
The control group, shielded from UV light, should show
minimal to no change in stain intensity.
Qualitatively describe the observed changes in each segment
and compare them to the control group.
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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.wikipedia.org

googlescholar.com

https://in.pintrest.com

csef.usc.edu/History/2005/Projects
/J0530.pdf

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