[NHCOLL-L:3760] Re: ordering formalin

[John E Simmons]

Tonya,
You can order formaldehyde that is pre-diluted 1:9 with water and buffered
with two sodium salts.

The preferred solution for fixing and storing amphibians, reptiles, and
fishes is one part full-strength formaldehyde mixed with 9 parts distilled
or deionized water (this dilution is commonly called "10% formalin") and
buffered with 4 g monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate + 6.5 g dibasic
sodium phosphate anhydrate per liter.

If you have a source of deionized or distilled water and a scale to weigh
the buffers, it is usually less expensive to buy the formaldehyde
full-strength and do the dilution and buffering yourself.  In part the cost
will depend on how much you need.  Bear in mind that you will have to pay
extra for HazMat shipping for the formaldehyde in any case.

Please feel free to contact me off-list if you have any other questions.

--John

John E. Simmons
Museologica
1528 ½ Puddintown Road
State College, Pennsylvania 16801
simmons.johne at gmail.com
303-681-5708


On Tue, Feb 12, 2008 at 3:29 PM, Tonya Haff <thaff at ucsc.edu> wrote:

>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a quick question about ordering formalin - does anyone have a
> recommended type or grade for pickling herps and fish?  We just ran out of
> the 5% formalin concoction that has been here ever since I started, and I'd
> like up another batch, but I want to make sure I order the right stuff.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Tonya
>
> --
> Tonya Haff
> Curator
> Museum of Natural History Collections
> UC Santa Cruz
> (831) 459-4763
> http://mnhc.ucsc.edu
>
>
>
> --
> Tonya Haff
> Curator
> Museum of Natural History Collections
> UC Santa Cruz
> (831) 459-4763
> http://mnhc.ucsc.edu




-- 
John E. Simmons
Museologica
1528 ½ Puddintown Road
State College, Pennsylvania 16801
simmons.johne at gmail.com
303-681-5708
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