[Nhcoll-l] Alcohol concentration for terrestrial vertebrates

[Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace)]

Hello all,

I am enjoying reading John Simmon's fantastic book on fluid preservation. In it I read one suggestion for stepping specimens up out of formalin fixative into preservation alcohol as follows: from 20% ETOH to 40% to 60% and finally to 80%. We typically place our specimens in 70% ETOH, and I know higher concentrations can cause some problems with specimen dehydration. All our specimens are terrestrial vertebrates. I presume the final 80% provides a buffer against ETOH evaporation or leaching of water from the specimen into the fluid in the jar, to ensure that the alcohol concentration in the preservation fluid stays sufficiently high? But to me this is not quite clear. I wonder if any of you have thoughts on this, or if you would be willing to share how you step your specimens up in ETOH?

Thank you!

Tonya


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