<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML dir=ltr><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<STYLE id=owaParaStyle>P {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
</STYLE>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.23588"></HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff ocsi="0" fPStyle="1">
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hi Sarah,</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Glycerin can be used as an effective
preservative for transparency specimens in that its specific gravity is
physically supportive of these specimens which have been through a maceration
process to render the internal skeleton more visible plus its RI lends itself to
rendering the specimens even more transparent. It often used to be used in
mircoscopy for a similar reason. The more concentrated the glycerin, the
more support it will give.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It can be mixed with alcohol but bear in
mind the two form a binary azeotrope whose mixing will release tiny air bubbles
and which need to dipserse before the solution can be used. You will also
see much in the way of Schleren Optics whilst the two fluids are mixing, once
these and the air bubbles are gone, then the fluid may be
used.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Glycerin, as most other viscous
fluids, is also capable of 'escaping' from jars - how many times have
sticky rings appeared under such a container?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thymol is useful to prevent mould growth
but a small crystal of menthol does just as well, imparting a fine film
barrier across the surface of the fluid and it has a more pleasant and less
permeating odour than thymol.</FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>For storage, you may use either ethanol
(70%) as a preservative but bear in mind a huge osmotic pressure differential
between the fluids so such a transfer would have to be done gradually and in
stages; the specimens would lose their alcohol-induced opacity. Also bear
in mind the problems involved with alcohol flammability, evaporation leading to
auto-dilution. I would personally prefer to use the glycerin but make sure
that you have good containers/jars with a tight and glycerin-proof
seal!</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I hope that these comments will
help.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>With all good wishes, Simon.
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS,
ACR<BR>Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,<BR><A
href="http://www.natural-history-conservation.com">www.natural-history-conservation.com</A>
<BR></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=skhuber@vims.edu href="mailto:skhuber@vims.edu">Sarah K. Huber</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu
href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 19, 2014 4:53
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Nhcoll-l] Long-term Storage of
Cleared and Stained Specimens</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; DIRECTION: ltr; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV>
<P>I am curious to hear what people think is the best long-term storage medium
for cleared and stained specimens (in our case fishes). I have seen
recommendations for glycerin in concentrations ranging from 100-70%, and
dilutions with water, ethanol, or KOH. I have also seen arguments for and
against the addition of thymol. However, since our collection has had mold
outbreaks in the past, any long term storage medium we use must have some kind
of additive to prevent molding. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>In addition, I have come across some older cleared and stained specimens
that were transferred to 70% ethanol at some point in the distant past. Is it
recommended to keep these specimens in ethanol or to try and move them back
into glycerin?</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Thanks in advance,</P>
<P>Sarah</P>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px">
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px">
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px"><FONT color=#000000 size=3>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></FONT><FONT
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT color=#000000 size=3>Sarah K. Huber,
Ph.D.</FONT><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Research Assistant Professor of Biology
and Marine Science</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px"><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Collection Manager, VIMS Ichthyology
Collection<BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">804.684.7104 <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">|
Collection 804.684.</SPAN>7285<BR>skhuber@vims.edu <FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">| www.vims.edu</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">PO Box 1346 | Rt. 1208 Greate Rd.,
Gloucester Pt., VA 23062<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><IMG alt=VimsLogo
src="http://www.vims.edu/intranet/communications/pubs/_images/thumbs/new_vims_logo_200.jpg"
width=225 height=62> <BR></DIV></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>Nhcoll-l mailing
list<BR>Nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<BR>http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l<BR><BR>_______________________________________________
<BR>NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation
of<BR>Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society
whose<BR>mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management
of<BR>natural history collections to ensure their continuing value
to<BR>society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership
information.<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>