[NHCOLL-L:4966] Methods of dispensing ethanol in museum prep lab

[Alexandra M Snyder]

In an effort to meet the directives from the (new) State 
of New Mexico Fire Marshal, I am trying to find another 
method for dispensing ethanol for our museum's wet prep 
lab.  We process collections of fishes and herps, using 
Nalgene carboys with spigots (gravity fed) to fill jars. 
The inspector from the Fire Marshal's office told me to 
plug the spigots and use hand pumps. (I did not mention to 
him that many pumps are not suitable for alcohol or fire 
rated or whatever...) I have not found a pump that fits 
the 50 liter Nalgene carboys. (We have 8 carboys.)  My 
experimentation with a hand pump in a 30 gallon drum 
proved that dispensing ethanol via that method would not 
be easy when trying to fill a 8 oz jar or anything smaller 
than a gallon size bucket. The fluid gushes out so 
forcefully that most of it ends up on the floor.

If anyone on the list has viable alternatives to carboys 
and gravity fed spigots for dispensing ethanol, I would 
appreciate hearing from you. Off list is fine because this 
problem is somewhat unique (I assume) and I would like to 
show the State FM that I have explored all options before 
going into the next round of discussions.  (This FM is new 
and does not like what the previous FM approved-despite 
getting variances, etc.)

Thank you for your attention.  Lex

**************************************
Alexandra M Snyder
Collections Manager-Fishes
Museum of Southwestern Biology MSC03-2020 302 Yale NE
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131 USA
PH/FAX 505.277.6005
amsnyder at unm.edu
http://www.msb.unm.edu/fishes/index.html