[Nhcoll-l] Formalin in exhibition instead of ethanol

[A.J.van_Dam at lumc.nl]

Dear Bo,


Indeed, as long the glycerol concentration is at or above 65% and the humidity in your facility is kept below 70% mould cannot grow.


When will the new exiibit be ready? Would definitely pay a visit to see the result.


Succes, Dries

Andries J. van Dam<http://www.linkedin.com/in/andriesvandam> | curator-conservator

Anatomical Museum<https://www.lumc.nl/onderwijs/over-ons/anatomisch-museum/?setlanguage=English&setcountry=en> | Leiden University Medical Center | Building 3 (V3-32)
P.O.Box 9600 | 2300 RC Leiden | The Netherlands
Visiting address: Hippocratespad 21 | Tel: +31 (0)71 52 68356 | E-mail: A.J.van_Dam at lumc.nl<https://mail.lumc.nl/owa/redir.aspx?C=O7wgy__4qEq-bCzDQhMP7IpMG33lsdEIUTcpXTatWwljNFWdpbtnBKj-HeYnbumJrkd3hILExAk.&URL=mailto%3aA.J.van_Dam%40lumc.nl>

Scientific associate | Natural History Museum London | http://www.nhm.ac.uk<https://mail.lumc.nl/owa/redir.aspx?C=O7wgy__4qEq-bCzDQhMP7IpMG33lsdEIUTcpXTatWwljNFWdpbtnBKj-HeYnbumJrkd3hILExAk.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nhm.ac.uk%2f>
________________________________
Van: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> namens Bo Delling <Bo.Delling at nrm.se>
Verzonden: vrijdag 4 februari 2022 16:40:28
Aan: Bo Delling; 'nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu'
Onderwerp: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Formalin in exhibition instead of ethanol

Hi again,

Thank you all for detailed and interesting information on this topic. Glycerol seems to be very interesting making nice specimens for exhibitions if you have fresh specimens with nice color. I will try it in the future for some small richly coloured fish. Is it correct that if you keep the concentration at 65% you don’t run in to problems with mould?

Regarding our squid(s) they aren’t that nice and if we can’t continue with ethanol I think we transfer selected specimen to a formalin solution after all (Jon, thank you for the publication with relevant references). James, I will check if we have any pictures and size estimates. The length of the mantel is about 1 m for both specimens. Ironically, the one we had for display is the one in worst condition (in several pieces, semi rotten I would say) collected close to Scotland around 1990 or so. The other one was collected by a shrimp trawler from Sweden in 1960 and this specimen have commonly been referred to as “the green squid” . Initially it was stored in a tank made of cupper. Nevertheless it’s in much better physical condition and consequently we will continue having a giant squid on display but not the same specimen.

Cheers,

Bo


Från: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> För Bo Delling
Skickat: den 3 februari 2022 12:15
Till: 'nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu' <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Ämne: [Nhcoll-l] Formalin in exhibition instead of ethanol

Dear all,
Up to recently we had a giant squid Architeuthis sp. in exhibition (“Liv in Vatten” = Life in Water/Aquatic life). It was contained in an aquarium, 80% ethanol (650 liters!). For the moment, we are planning for thorough modernization, i.e. the exhibition will be rebuilt from scratch but we wish to keep the squid. It is very popular. However, we might face problems regarding fire safety regulations and one idea that came up was to transfer the specimen to weak formalin solution (1%).
-Anyone having any experience and perhaps suggestions regarding concentration and suitable buffer?
My limited experience is based on museum specimens (mainly fishes) that previously were in the old NRM exhibitions. I come across them now and then in the scientific collection and according to older documents, the ethanol was replaced with formalin around 1960 because the expense. Anyway, this old exhibition jars with specimens look very nice (except for bleaching of specimens) and the fluid (formalin solution) looks like clear water.
All the best,
Bo


Bo Delling, PhD Ichthyology
Curator of Fishes and Herptiles

Swedish Museum of Natural History
Department of Zoology
Frescativägen 44
P.O. Box 50007
SE-104 05 Stockholm

Phone: +46 85195 4240

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