Rose bengal is a water soluble biological stain. It probably binds to
proteins & other biological molecules. If it has bound to the protein in the
shell it may be not be possible to get it out without also damaging the
shell. Besides water, you may want to try the usual solvents, e.g., alcohol,
acetone, even a dilute base (for example, NaOH) solution.
 
A.
 
 On Thursday, February 4, 1999 at 1:21:35 am EST,
"Aaron Baldwin" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Dear Conch-lers,
>
>I was wondering if anyone out there had any ideas on how to clean
>Rose-Bengal stain out of shells. I have a beautiful Thyasira flexuosa
>bivalve that was originally stored in stained formalin. The shell is stained
>pink and I would like to clean it before sending it off to Tom Rice.