[NHCOLL-L:2681] Re: Bags in Ethanol?

[Paul Callomon]

Dear Darolyn

I don't know how relevant this is, but: a few months ago, I rebottled a batch of molluscan specimens in ethanol from the Shackleton expedition, collected in 1906 or thereabouts. They were originally in a coarse cotton sugar bag that came from the now-defunct Franklin Sugar Company here in Philadelphia. I rinsed the bag in fresh water afterwards, and dried it out. It seems good as new, after anything up to 99 years in alcohol (probably not as long as that, admittedly, though certainly pre-WWII).

Regards,

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 http://erato.acnatsci.org/ams/


>>> Darolyn Striley <dstriley at nhm.org> 06/03/05 01:16PM >>>
Good morning!

I have a couple of curating questions for you all, I am trying to store
large crabs (like Lithodids) in steel tanks with 70% ethanol alcohol. Does
anyone have any experience with this?
Our Echinoderm Department has had success placing their large specimens in
tailor made Nitex bags. These bags are expensive.
Has anyone used some of the cheaper alternatives that are made with a)
polyethylene mesh, b) nylon monofilament or c) polyester monofilament, we
are thinking of ordering these bags from Aquatic Eco-systems Inc.
Are mesh bags even, the best possible storage? We need something strong
enough to withstand years of storage in alcohol and it needs to keep the
specimens separate, yet be easily opened and closed.


Thanks for your help!

Darolyn


-- 
Darolyn Striley
Curatorial Assistant
Marine Biodiversity Processing Center
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 763-3386
(213) 763-3464
(213) 749-2999 Fax