iZJU-China



Eco-Art

A Solution for Pungent Odors Degradation in Oil Painting
Based on Engineering Bacteria

Let's first take a tour of the arts!

In the Louvre Museum, Paris, each masterpiece of oil painting is a sign of its time. Throughout centuries, the story from the Old Testament of the Bible depicted in The Wedding at Cana still vividly portrays Venetian society; the mystery surrounding the origin of The Mona Lisa never fails to draw the crowds…

On a hillside in Pingxiang city, Jiangxi Province, China, lies the 0799 Art District. Artists gather here for artistic creation and inspiration. In the regular exhibitions held in the Art District, lots of oil paintings are shown to the public. The dense colors and the diverse layers of the art on display showcase the minds of these young artists. The oil paints on the canvas convey the reflection, thoughts, and sentiments of the young artists to the audience, possessing strong artistic attraction.

Turpentine – playing an important role in oil painting.


It is the specialty of oil paints that endows oil paintings with such kinds of endurance. As a crucial part of oil paints, turpentine, the most common thinner of oil paints, allows great flexibility and depth of color of oil paints. By modifying the viscosity with turpentine oil, oil paints can be applied in various ways, from thin glaze to dense thick impasto, providing opportunities for blending and layering.

So, is the turpentine oil all PERFECT?

No. Its pungent odor has long been plaguing artists.

The Harm of Turpentine to Human Body

Where does the pungent odor COME FROM?

The answer is α-pinene.


The primary constituent of turpentine is α-pinene, which accounts for over 80%.

What do WE do?

Create engineering bacteria to degrade α-pinene in turpentine!

Reviving Art, Breathing Health:
Bacteria Create an Eco-Friendly Future for
Oil Painting.

Click here to start a wonderful journey!