CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter presents the Introduction, Background of the Study, Theoretical Framework,

Conceptual Framework, Statement of the Problem, Hypothesis, Scope and Limitations,

Significance of the Study, and Definition of Terms

1.1 Introduction

Iron gall ink was arguably the most important ink in Western history because it was the

standard ink formulation used in Europe for the fourteen-hundred period between the 5th and 19th

century. A vast number of famous and important manuscripts have been written using the iron gall

ink, including Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. It has a high quality of permanence and water

resistance that when it is used, the writings will still be readable even after centuries.

Unfortunately, iron gall ink passed out of widespread use by the early twentieth century due to the

ink’s corrosive properties and the development of various useful synthetic inks.

Grape is a fruit of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus Vitis. It was

first cultivated roughly 8,500 years ago in what is now the Middle East. Grapes come in different

colors and forms. Its three primary uses are for wine, dried fruit (raisins), and fresh table grapes.

.In this study, the researchers plan to conduct an experimental research to reduce the acidity

level of the iron gall ink by using grapes as tannin source to prevent iron gall ink corrosion.

1
 1.2 Background of the Study

Ink is a pigmented liquid or paste commonly used for writing and drawing with a pen,

brush, or quill. Each component of inks serve many purposes; the ink's carrier, colorants, and other

additives affect the flow and thickness of the ink and its dry appearance.

Grapes contain several groups of organic and inorganic compounds, such as sugars, organic

acids, phenolic compounds, and other substances. Phenolic compounds are primarily located in

the seeds and skins of the grapes. The two main substances included in the phenolic group of

compounds are anthocyanins and tannins. Anthocyanins are pigments and they are responsible for

the red and purple color of the grapes while tannins are astringent phenolic acids that can be found

in many species of plants and are commonly used for leather production and ink manufacture.

Iron gall ink, though widely used for fourteen centuries, met its downfall due to its

corrosive properties. The ink caused loss of text, bleeding, fading, and acid migration. Libraries

and archives around the world put extreme efforts to treat artifacts suffering from iron gall ink

corrosion. Even though experts solved the problem of ink corrosion with microfilming and

deacidification, no one tried to reduce the acidity level of the ink itself to prevent iron gall ink

corrosion. The researchers come up with an idea to recreate the iron gall ink using grapes as the

tannin source, unlike the traditional oak galls from which the name of the ink was derived.

1.3 Theoretical Framework

Tannins are the main source of color in iron gall ink, it provides a brownish-black color to

the ink that darkens when mixed with iron sulfate. The iron gall ink usually uses oak gall or nut

gall, and both contains gallic and tannic acid. The researchers theorize that grapes can be a

2
substitute for oak gall in creating iron gall ink, and that iron gall ink can be created using only

tannins and not the specific form of tannin, which is tannic acid, and gallic acid. The seed, stem,

and skin of grapes are high in tannins and will provide a purplish-black tint when used for iron gall

ink.

1.4 Conceptual Framework / Paradigm of the Study

Input Process Output

1. Materials 1. Preparation
Water 1.1 Gathering and
preparing of ingredients
Grapes
2. Grapes
Ferrous Sulfate
2.1 Mashing of the grapes Iron gall ink with
Gum Arabic
2.2 Pouring water into the grapes as tannin
t
mashed grapes
2. Equipment source
3. Overall
Bowl
3.1 Mixing the mashed
Small Glass Jar grapes with liquid ferrous
sulfate

3.2 Add gum Arabic

powder
3.3 Packing the finished

Figure 1: The figure shows the paradigm of study showing the grapes (Vitis vinifera

“Cardinal”) with several other ingredients as iron gall ink.

Using the materials needed, the grapes must first be mashed. Then the mashed grapes will

be mixed with liquid ferrous sulfate, a material that makes the ink able to penetrate paper and

3
difficult to erase. After that, gum Arabic, which serves as a binding component, will be added to

the mixture.

1.5 Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the effectivity of grapes as the tannin source of iron gall ink

and in reducing the acidity level of the ink.

Specifically, this research study was conducted to answer the following questions:

1. What are the properties of iron gall ink that uses grapes as tannin source in terms of?:

1.1 Color

1.2 Water-Resistance

1.3 Permanence

1.4 pH level

1.5 Opacity

2. What will be the color of the ink after 8 days of exposure to oxygen?

3. Is grape as tannin source of iron gall ink effective in reducing the acidity level of the ink?

4. Does using grapes change the permanence and color of the iron gall ink?

1.6 Hypothesis

General Hypothesis

HO – The use of Vitis vinifera “Cardinal” is not effective as tannin source and in reducing

the acidity level of iron gall ink.

4
 1.7 Scope and Limitations

This study covers the idea of grapes as the tannin source to iron gall ink. It also uses several

ingredients such as ferrous sulfate, which serves as the mordant, and gum Arabic to bind the

components of the ink and improve the body and flow of the ink. The study is limited to the

effectivity of grapes as the tannin source of iron gall ink in reducing the acidity level of the ink.

1.8 Significance of the Study

1. Community- this product will help inform the mass about the iron gall ink and they will be

able to use it for daily purposes.

2. Writers- they will be able to write freely without fear of ink corrosion and their works will

remain readable after a long time.

3. Researchers- it will help them to know the other uses of grapes and they will be able to

elaborate the knowledge of grape as a base for ink making.

4. Future researchers- it will help them have an idea when the topic is related to iron gall ink

and grapes, as it is unusual to use grapes in creating ink. The result will serve as a guide and

benefit other researchers in acquiring as well as generating an iron gall ink using grapes.

1.9 Definition of Terms

 Acid hydrolysis- a process in which acid caused by the presence of sulfate groups in vitriol

or additives hydrolyze the glucose molecules of paper, eventually causing the physical

degradation of cellulose.

5
 Corrosive- materials that will damage or destroy other substances with which it comes to

contact through chemical reaction.

 Deacidification- the process of adding an alkaline buffering agent into an acidic paper

(pH6.0 and below) to preserve the paper

 Ferrous sulfate- it is known in the ancient times as copperas and as green vitriol. It was

used in the manufacture of inks, most notably the iron gall ink.

 Grapes- a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant

genus Vitis.

 Gum Arabic- a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of various species of the acacia

tree. It is used for viscosity control in inks and textile industries.

 Ink- a fluid or paste of various colors, but usually black or dark blue, used for writing and

printing.

 Iron gall ink – an ink made from iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources. It was

the standard ink formulation used in Europe between the 5th and 19th centuries.

 Tannin- a yellowish or brownish bitter-tasting organic substances present in some galls,

barks, and other plants tissues, consisting of derivatives of gallic acid, used in leather

production and ink manufacture.

 Vitis- also known as grapevines, is a genus of 79 accepted species of vining plants in the

flowering plant family Vitaceae.