<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><title>Telling formalin from ethanol</title><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
color:black;}
p.MsoFootnoteText, li.MsoFootnoteText, div.MsoFootnoteText
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Footnote Text Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
color:black;}
span.MsoFootnoteReference
{mso-style-priority:99;
vertical-align:super;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
color:black;}
pre
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
color:black;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black;}
span.FootnoteTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Footnote Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Footnote Text";
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle24
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.HTMLPreformattedChar
{mso-style-name:"HTML Preformatted Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted";
font-family:Consolas;
color:black;}
span.EmailStyle27
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:green;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Wow, many thanks everyone for the great advice. That density meter looks really slick, though I’m probably more in the floating paper/DIY test kit range at the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>-Megan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dirk Neumann<br><b>Sent:</b> 2014–March-07 2:41 AM<br><b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Telling formalin from ethanol<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all,<br><br>be carefully testing ketone denatured alcohols with the Anton-Paar density metre; the density metre is offered in two different qualities (internal measuring units based on plastic vs. stainless steel components). For ketone denatured alcohols (e.g. MEK, which is going to be the mandatory due to a new EU regulation to harmonise alcohol denaturants stipulated in autumn 2013), choose the stainless steel version. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the Anton Paar with distilled or deionised water after each measuring.<br><br>More information on how to test natural history specimens is offered herre:<br><a href="http://www.anton-paar.com/?eID=documentsDownload&document=26579&L=0">http://www.anton-paar.com/?eID=documentsDownload&document=26579&L=0</a> <br><br>All the best<br>Dirk<br><br><br><br>Am 07.03.2014 02:13, schrieb Kate Pocklington:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hey Megan, </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>If you’re looking for a long-term solution you could invest in a density meter. We have one here in Singapore and I used one in my previous job at Oxford University with over 6000 jars - it definitely speeds things up!<br>It’s useful to have one for identifying between formalin and alcohol and also for checking the percentage of the preservative. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>They are quite pricey but they’re worth it in the long run <a href="http://www.anton-paar.com/corp-en/products/details/portable-density-meter-dma-35/">http://www.anton-paar.com/corp-en/products/details/portable-density-meter-dma-35/</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Cheers!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Kate</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a> [<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Morris, Robert (SAM)<br><b>Sent:</b> 07 March 2014 07:27<br><b>To:</b> Best, Megan; <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Telling formalin from ethanol</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Megan,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>When upgrading our sprit stores some years ago now, we were required to separate our collections stored in alcohol from those stored in Formalin for fire and safety compliance reasons. In short a fire in an alcohol store is a hazard but a fire in a store with formalin is a toxic hazard. This was a huge undertaking given the size of our spirit collections so we had to find a quick and simple testing procedure.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>A range of techniques was tested including differing light properties, pH, specific test strips, reactive paper as well as the use of a hydrometer. These techniques were dismissed either due to the inefficiency of the system or the relative costs involved. After a short time, it was brought to light that a method employing a pipette with an ampulla containing a float (plastic pinhead) had been used in the Australian Museum for the same purpose. It was difficult to replicate this equipment exactly but we found that a 5 cc syringe with a pinhead inside served exactly the same function but was both faster and easier. This method worked with 100% success in differentiating between the two solutions and was therefore adopted as the preferred method of sampling for all collections.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>We could not sample every specimen jar so we selected the most likely groups that were stored in formalin, such as soft bodied animals, and fully tested them. For the rest we sampled statistically to confirm likely makeup.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best of luck</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=499 style='width:374.25pt'><tr><td width=499 valign=top style='width:374.25pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br></span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Robert Morris</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br><b>Head of Collections</b><br><b>South Australian Museum</b><br>North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000<br>P: +61 (8) 8207 7455 <br></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:robert.morris@samuseum.sa.gov.au">robert.morris@samuseum.sa.gov.au</a><br><a href="http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/">www.samuseum.sa.gov.au</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=499 valign=bottom style='width:374.25pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><br></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><img border=0 width=239 height=77 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01CF39EB.0E8E2C50"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=499 valign=bottom style='width:374.25pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><br></span><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'>This email and any attachments may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure or reproduction of the contents is unauthorised. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender by return email. This email and any attachments should be scanned to detect any viruses and no liability for loss or damage resulting from the use of any attached file is accepted.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a> [<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Best, Megan<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, 7 March 2014 12:33 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Telling formalin from ethanol</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Hello all,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>I’ve been benefitting from the conversations on this listserv for some time now,</span> <span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>really fascinating and useful stuff.</span> <span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> I manage a research collection, mostly of marine invertebrates, and I have a question:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Is there an easy way to tell if</span> <span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>a fixative is formalin or ethanol? </span> <span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Aside from the smell test!</span> <span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> I’m looking to organise</span> <span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>hundreds of jars from various benthic surveys, and we want to switch out anything that’s in formalin to ethanol. The formalin is buffered so I don’t think a pH difference would be a strong indicator. Any ideas/advice would be appreciated.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>-Megan</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Megan Best</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br></span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Invertebrate Taxonomy</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br></span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>tel: 902.426.2791 email: <a href="mailto:megan.best@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">megan.best@dfo-mpo.gc.ca</a></span><br><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division | Division des sciences de l'écosystème et de la mer</span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br></span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Department of Fisheries and Oceans | Ministère des Pêches et Oceans</span><br><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Government of Canada | Government du Canada</span><br><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:green'>Bedford Institute of Oceanography | Institut Océanographique de Bedford</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Nhcoll-l mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="mailto:Nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">Nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l">http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>_______________________________________________ <o:p></o:p></pre><pre>NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>society. See <a href="http://www.spnhc.org">http://www.spnhc.org</a> for membership information.<o:p></o:p></pre></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>-- <o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Dirk Neumann<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Tel: 089 / 8107-111<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Fax: 089 / 8107-300<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Postanschrift:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Zoologische Staatssammlung München<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Labor<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Münchhausenstr. 21<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>81247 München<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/">http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>---------<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Dirk Neumann<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Tel: +49-89-8107-111<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Fax: +49-89-8107-300<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>postal address:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Bavarian Natural History Collections<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Muenchhausenstr. 21<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>81247 Munich (Germany)<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Visit our section at:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/">http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/</a><o:p></o:p></pre></div></body></html>