Thanks Paul and Matt
But is rubbing alcohol toxic? Does it make any damage on shells after a long time? Is some places it
is much easier to find than ethanol, thus my question.
Marcus
________________________________________
De: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Em nome de Paul Callomon
Enviada em: segunda-feira, 16 de março de 2009 16:55
Para: [log in to unmask]
Assunto: Re: [CONCH-L] Isopropyl Alcohol
Conchlers,
We do indeed store "some" shells wet. We have about 60,000 bottles containing (aside from the
critters themselves) about 8000 gallons of 70% or 80% ethanol in all. As far as can be said for a
storage medium that only about 100 years old, there are no known deleterious effects on the shells
themselves from storage in ethanol. The animal's DNA will also apparently survive for a very long
time, assuming that the concentration of alcohol is maintained and that the specimen was properly
fixed (soaked through with alcohol) within a short time of demise.
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol also preserves DNA, but it hardens the flesh, making dissection
difficult. It is also toxic and unpleasant to work with. Formalin shreds DNA and dissolves shells
over time, even in mild solution, and is thus only useful as a primary fixative for anatomical
specimens; methanol is too hazardous to use for anything.
PC.
Paul Callomon
Collections Manager
Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General Invertebrates
Department of Malacology
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
Tel 215-405-5096
Fax 215-299-1170
Secretary, American Malacological Society
On the web at www.malacological.org
>>> Matt Blaine <[log in to unmask]> 3/16/2009 3:42 PM >>>
Marcus,
They store some shells "wet" at The Academy of Natural Sciences in
Philadelphia. They do use ethyl alcohol which might have some bearing on the
quality of the shell after long storage. At least that was what I was told
when I visited there last year at the PA Shell Show.
Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marcus Coltro" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 12:11 PM
Subject: [CONCH-L] Isopropyl Alcohol
>I dived with Tony McCleery (for the last time, unfortunately - the article
>in on my website) and he
> asked if it is ok to leave shells on isopropyl alcohol for long periods.
> I've been using in most of
> my trips, but I only leave shells for a few days before cleaning them.
>
> He said someone told him it could attack the shell structure and destroy
> it if immersed for several
> years.
>
> Is this correct?
>
> Marcus
>
> www.femorale.com
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
> To leave this list, click on the following web link:
> http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
> Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
> click leave the list.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
