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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>Hi Lex, Alina,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>The suspicion of an acidic formalin solution reacting with aluminum to form a gelatinous aluminum oxyhydroxide seems very plausible given that aluminum oxide, which provides the passive coating on aluminum, becomes soluble in the pH 4 range. See, for example <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__corrosion-2Ddoctors.org_Corrosion-2DThermodynamics_Potential-2DpH-2Ddiagram-2Daluminum.htm&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=K3GiXPR_C_Ch_4sdeQ7JFoEqxF5uT7cl-suCp-3vIxk&s=-XvwsAetpZ8G7z99edNdTkQ20sccgx6HhWVMlSAOMUw&e=">http://corrosion-doctors.org/Corrosion-Thermodynamics/Potential-pH-diagram-aluminum.htm</a> :<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=501 height=414 style='width:5.2187in;height:4.3125in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D3053C.AC1302A0"><span lang=EN-CA><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>I suggest measuring the pH of the solution and requesting a museum conservation science laboratory or university chemistry department do an infrared (FTIR) analysis of a gel sample for you. If it is a corrosion of aluminum problem then it might be correctable by adjusting the pH of the solution and buffering into the pH 5 to 6 range. Cathodic protection of the aluminum is another possibility but depending on what our zoological preservation gurus think I suspect buffering the solution would be the simpler approach. Ideally someone on our list will be able to provide a referral to a natural science conservator in the region who could advise and oversee or conduct corrective measures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'>Robert Waller, PhD, CAPC, FIIC<br>President and Senior Risk Analyst<br>Protect Heritage Corp.<br>622 Simoneau Way<br>Ottawa ON K4A 1P4<br>email: </span><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:rw@protectheritage.com"><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#0563C1'>rw@protectheritage.com</span></a><br></span><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'>internet: </span><span style='color:black'><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.protectheritage.com_&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=K3GiXPR_C_Ch_4sdeQ7JFoEqxF5uT7cl-suCp-3vIxk&s=ir7a7LprsGpLMgENg-3QDV5k4s5h1PMa1H2Km39QRQA&e="><span lang=EN-CA style='color:#0563C1'>www.protectheritage.com</span></a><br></span><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'>phone: 613-883-2707 (Canada)<br>phone: 303-872-9739 (USA)<br></span><img border=0 width=16 height=16 style='width:.1666in;height:.1666in' id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image003.gif@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="ORCID iD"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494A4C;background:white'><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__orcid.org_0000-2D0002-2D9500-2D4113&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=K3GiXPR_C_Ch_4sdeQ7JFoEqxF5uT7cl-suCp-3vIxk&s=IQHq4yhSLPnrYW5LslhGy0D69iO_xw6l5wxUbi8du3M&e="><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9500-4113</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'>skype: rrwaller<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'>and, </span></i><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'>Research Associate, Canadian Museum of Nature<br><i>and,</i> Adjunct Assistant Professor, Queen’s University<br> <img border=0 width=83 height=27 style='width:.8645in;height:.2812in' id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:image004.png@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="cid:image003.png@01D16EDD.07D59280"> <img border=0 width=95 height=29 style='width:.9895in;height:.302in' id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="http://nature.ca/images/logo_e.jpg"> <img border=0 width=41 height=29 style='width:.427in;height:.302in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image006.png@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="Description: http://www.queensu.ca/writingcentre/images/QueensLogo.png"><br> </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.facebook.com_ProtectHeritageCorp-3Fref-3Dtn-5Ftnmn&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=K3GiXPR_C_Ch_4sdeQ7JFoEqxF5uT7cl-suCp-3vIxk&s=lRvwlvDViX3BLUriilyQlpJCpa_YHcykb3-tO6T_gvc&e="><span lang=EN-CA style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=87 height=24 style='width:.9062in;height:.25in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image007.png@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="cid:image006.png@01D16EDD.07D59280"></span></a><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'> </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_-23-21_ProtectHeritage&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=K3GiXPR_C_Ch_4sdeQ7JFoEqxF5uT7cl-suCp-3vIxk&s=c0YuAEnNWGqxAjTfSU7ub-6b0310jvRTGiAagetoQLs&e="><span lang=EN-CA style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=66 height=24 style='width:.6875in;height:.25in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image008.png@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="cid:image007.png@01D16EDD.07D59280"></span></a><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA> </span><span lang=EN-CA><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Alexandra Snyder<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 25, 2017 11:13 AM<br><b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Fw: Information request: problems with preserving specimens (formalin)<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div id=divtagdefaultwrapper><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Dear Alina, I am forwarding your request for information to the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, a group that can advise on the source of the problem in your preservation tanks. There may be a reaction between the acidic formalin and aluminum supports. You did not mention the concentration of formalin used for shark specimens. The build up/residue looks like the "stuff" or sludge found in carboys of old formaldehyde that has been through temperature changes and exposure to air. Is the build up crusty, solid, or soft and easily removed? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Hopefully, the group can weigh in on this and make recommendations for storage/display. My own experience has only been with fixing and preserving a shark contained (whole) in a very large stainless steel tank-i.e., no exposure to light or fluctuation in temperatures. I imagine open displays present a whole suite of issues to consider in preservation. The only long term "shark tank" <u>display</u> that I am familiar with (via online) is that of Damien Hirst and I have often wondered what is done to maintain the shark in formalin, long-term, i.e., buffers, remixing, tank construction, lighting, etc. You may be familiar with his work but if not, see attached. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Best wishes, Lex<o:p></o:p></span></p><div id=Signature><div id=divtagdefaultwrapper><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div name=divtagdefaultwrapper><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>*************************************</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>Alexandra M Snyder, Collections Manager-Fishes</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>Museum of Southwestern Biology MSC03-2020</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>PH./FAX 505.277.6005 amsnyder@unm.edu</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>PHYSICAL ADDRESS FOR FEDEX/UPS</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>Bldg.83 Room 204</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray'>302 Yale Blvd NE</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><hr size=2 width="98%" align=center></span></div><div id=divRplyFwdMsg><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='color:black'> Sharklife Projects <projects@sharklife.co.za><br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 25, 2017 3:41 AM<br><b>To:</b> Alexandra Snyder; Monica Solis<br><b>Cc:</b> 'Grant Smith'<br><b>Subject:</b> Information request: problems with preserving specimens (formalin)</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><div><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>Dear Sir/ Madam,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>We are a Shark Conservation Group situated in South Africa, and currently encounter some problems with the preserved shark specimens in our shark center/museum. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>All of the specimens are contained in a glass box/aquarium which is filled with a formaldehyde-water solution (formalin), and held in place with the help of aluminum contractions and rods. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>At any place that the aluminum was cut or drilled a white, snow/dust/fungus like substances is growing (photos are attached). We were thinking that maybe at the cuts something is released or accessible for any reactions, or that while cutting the aluminum some particles of the cutting device got stuck. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>The animals have been in the tanks since about one year, and the growth continues. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>We wanted to ask whether anyone in the museum has any knowledge regarded to the preservation of animals in formalin and especially the growth of that substance, or you know somebody who can help us. Any information or contact would be a great help. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>We are hoping to hear from you soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>Thank you for the help and time,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='text-indent:36.0pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>With kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>Alina Hillinger<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><b><span style='color:black'>Sharklife Project Co-ordinator</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>Sharklife Ocean Center</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>No.7 Main Road</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>Sodwana Bay</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>3794</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>+27 35 571 0417</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'>www.sharklife.co.za</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id=DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellpadding=0 style='border:none;border-top:solid #D3D4DE 1.0pt'><tr><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;border:none;padding:9.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.avg.com_email-2Dsignature-3Futm-5Fmedium-3Demail-26utm-5Fsource-3Dlink-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Dsig-2Demail-26utm-5Fcontent-3Demailclient&d=DwMFAw&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=EIeg-IeC497G4NYcGGn7JH70rZP6Zmuk1870rUQao60&s=PIWgXEcS8RDtRjjWeZwK8NUtESoQNB7o-54TQDVO1tU&e=" target="_blank"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=46 height=29 style='width:.4791in;height:.302in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image009.jpg@01D3053C.AC1302A0" alt="Image removed by sender."></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=470 style='width:352.5pt;border:none;padding:9.0pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#41424E'>Virus-free. <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.avg.com_email-2Dsignature-3Futm-5Fmedium-3Demail-26utm-5Fsource-3Dlink-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Dsig-2Demail-26utm-5Fcontent-3Demailclient&d=DwMFAw&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=EIeg-IeC497G4NYcGGn7JH70rZP6Zmuk1870rUQao60&s=PIWgXEcS8RDtRjjWeZwK8NUtESoQNB7o-54TQDVO1tU&e=" target="_blank">www.avg.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>