Marcus,
I think that Paul would be the one to answer this (or a chemist). From my
experiences with and readings regarding insects and their storage in
alcohol, I don't think that it will damage the shell. Isopropyl alcohol
makes the tissue harder than ethyl alcohol does thus harder to clean the
animal out later on if that is your intent.
I know that when using alcohol to preserve animals ( tissue) that it is best
to begin with lower percentages of alcohol and gradually increase the
alcohol percent. This is due to the fact that high percentages of alcohol
will harden (desiccate) the outer tissue and form a barrier which the water
in the internal parts can not pass through easily. The process is to start
with 20% for a few hours than 30% for a few hours up to say 70% for storage
or for making a permanent slide. Remember that the animal will dilute the
alcohol percentages so you don't want to leave the animal in 20% for a
prolonged time or you will have deterioration.
I have never read or heard that either isopropyl or ethyl alcohol will
damage shell. An organic chemist might have better insight on this question.
Oh, I have found that you can purchase "rubbing alcohol" in the US that is
ethyl alcohol although it is much harder to find that isopropyl.
Matt

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marcus Coltro" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 9:39 PM
Subject: [CONCH-L] RES: [CONCH-L] Isopropyl Alcohol


> 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
>>
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