I recently set about to better preserve my periostracum bearing molluscs. I found a previous thread on Conch-L regarding the subject and decided I would settle upon a mix of 50 percent alcohol-glycerine solution for the deed. When I went to local lab supply stockroom, the man told me: that "I have 'Glycerol' which is the same thing as glycerine." Not having memorized the chemical formula, and assuming this man knew what he was talking about, I purchased the glycerol (I thought perhaps this was just the brand name). A couple weeks later I found myself in another lab supply outfit and found the glycerol bottles sitting next to the glycerine bottles. They were clearly not exactly the same as they had different chemical formulas (glycerol being a "hydrated" version of glycerine). My question is (especially important to me as I've had 2 nice Colus stimpsoni soaking for 2 weeks in this glycerine "imposter"), does Glycerol work the same as Glycerine? Will it preserve the periostracum the same way? And even if does ultimately preserve, is there any important differences or concerns regarding glycerol that I should know about? Finally, regarding glycerine and glycerol, the past discussions on this topic mentioned "What" to preserve your soft parts with, but nothing about "How long." How long do people usually soak their shells to achieve the desired result? Thanks for any help, Kevin Kevin Czaja Dorchester, MA