La croissance mondiale, économique et industrielle, ainsi que la rapide progression démographique des populations, ont fait augmenter la demande en énergie fossile. Ces dernières années, beaucoup de recherches ont été orientées vers de nouvelles ressources énergétiques qui peuvent remplacer les carburants fossiles conventionnels. Les biocarburants sont des carburants écologiques renouvelables, obtenus grâce à la transformation des matières grasses animales et végétales. Ils sont classés en tant que ressource idéale, non-toxique et renouvelable, substituant avantageusement le Diesel conventionnel. Dans cette optique, nous nous sommes intéressés à la production des biocarburants à partir d’une source végétale, non alimentaire, très abondante dans le bassin méditerranéen, en l’occurrence le pistachier lentisque, par deux procédés, l’un est chimique appelé transestérification et l’autre est thermochimique, la solvolyse. Les caractérisations des biocarburants conformément aux normes en vigueur, ont montré que les propriétés physico-chimiques sont comparables à celles du Diesel conventionnel. Un moteur Diesel monocylindre refroidi à l'air, a été utilisé pour évaluer les caractéristiques de la combustion de ces biocarburants, à 1500 tr/min, sous diverses conditions de charges du moteur. Les caractéristiques de la combustion (pression du cylindre, délai d’auto-inflammation, taux de dégagement de chaleur et durée de combustion) des biocarburants obtenus, sont comparées à celles du Diesel conventionnel. / The world economic and industrial growths, as well as the demographic rapid progression, have increased the fossil energy demand. These last years, much of researches were directed towards new energy resources which can replace the conventional fossil fuels. The biofuels are renewable ecological fuels derived from biomass; they are classified as an ideal resource, non-toxic and renewable component with respect to the conventional Diesel. In this context, we were firstly interested to the production of the biofuels starting from a non-edible vegetable source widely available in the Mediterranean basin which is the Pistacia Lentiscus using two processes. The first one is a chemical method named “transesterification” and the second one is a thermochemical procedure called “solvolysis”. The biofuels physicochemical properties, measured via standard methods, are similar to those of Diesel fuel. A single cylinder, naturally aspirated DI Diesel engine is operated at 1500 rpm with either pure produced biofuels or their blends with Diesel fuel for several ratios (50, 30 and 5 v%) and engine load conditions. The combustion parameters, their blends are compared with those of Diesel fuel.

No / This study examines resinous deposits from the interior surfaces of sherds of imported Canaanite amphorae and locally produced bowls from the 18th Dynasty site of Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Canaanite amphorae were used for resin transport, whilst the bowls are associated with burning resin as incense. A number of characteristic triterpenoids identify all the resinous deposits from both vessel types as Pistacia spp. No other resins were observed and there was no evidence of mixing with oils or fats. The composition of the archaeological resins is more complex than that of modern pistacia resin, due to degradation and generation of new components. Experimental heating alters the relative abundance of the triterpenoid composition of modern pistacia resin. One component, the triterpenoid 28-norolean-17-en-3-one, is produced by such heating; however, an increase in its relative abundance in ancient samples is not matched by the archaeological evidence for heating. It is therefore not possible to use this component reliably to identify heated resin. However, additional unidentified components with a mass spectral base peak at m/z 453 have been associated with seven (out of 10) bowls and are not observed in resins associated with Canaanite amphorae. It is proposed that these components are more reliable molecular indicators of heating.

No / There is increasing evidence for complexity in mortuary practices in Britain during the Roman period. One class of burials demonstrates an association between inhumation in stone sarcophagi or lead-lined coffins, 'plaster' coatings, textile shrouds and natural resins. It has been suggested that this 'package' represents a deliberate attempt at body preservation. Fragments with a resinous appearance found in one such burial from Arrington, Cambridgeshire, UK were analysed using gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. The triterpenic compounds identified are biomarkers for the genus Pistacia and provide the first chemical evidence for an exotic resin in a mortuary context in Roman Britain. / AHRC

Yes / Resinous substances were highly prized in the ancient world for use in ritual contexts. Details gleaned from classical literature indicate that they played a significant role in Roman mortuary rites, in treatment of the body and as offerings at the tomb. Outside of Egypt, however, where research has shown that a range of plant exudates were applied as part of the mummification process, resins have rarely been identified in the burial record. This is despite considerable speculation regarding their use across the Roman Empire. Focusing on one region, we investigated organic residues from forty-nine late Roman inhumations from Britain. Using gas chromatographyemass spectrometry and the well-attested biomarker approach, terpenic compounds were characterized in fourteen of the burials analysed. These results provided direct chemical evidence for the presence of exudates from three different plant families: coniferous Pinaceae resins, Mediterranean Pistacia spp. resins (mastic/terebinth) and exotic Boswellia spp. gum-resins (frankincense/olibanum) from southern Arabia or beyond. The individuals accorded this rite had all been interred with a package of procedures more elaborate than the norm. These findings illuminate the multiplicity of roles played by resinous substances in Roman mortuary practices in acting to disguise the odour of decomposition, aiding temporary soft-tissue preservation and signifying the social status of the deceased. Nevertheless, it was their ritual function in facilitating the transition to the next world that necessitated transportation to the most remote outpost of the late Roman Empire, Britain. / R.C.B is supported by a PhD studentship from the Art and Humanities Research Council (43019R00209).

No / Resin found within Canaanite amphorae from the Late Bronze Age shipwreck discovered off the coast of southwest Turkey at Uluburun has previously been identified as Pistacia sp. Although evidence from Egypt suggests that this resin was in high demand and typically transported in such amphorae, it has also been proposed that the amphorae contained wine, with the resin used to seal the interior surfaces and to flavour and/or preserve the wine. To attempt to resolve this question, we have analysed five samples of pistacia resin found in amphorae from the shipwreck using a range of analytical techniques which have used in the past for the analysis of wine residues: spot tests, FT-IR, and HPLC-MS-MS. As well as the archaeological samples, we have analysed modern samples of pistacia resin, leaves and fruit to determine the effectiveness of each technique and to exclude the possibility of false positive results. In addition to the analyses for wine we also detail analysis (GC-MS) of the terpenoids for the purpose of further molecular characterisation of the resin. Bulk stable isotope analysis was used in comparison with similar resins to attempt to identify the geographical origin of the resin.