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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Tonya,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good for you in doing those tests to discover that!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The key is to remember that “mixing” and “dissolving” are two distinct processes that occur at different rates.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">The mixing creates a mixture of 95% ethanol and 0% ethanol (water). This is evidenced by a lack of optical clarity (waviness) in the mixture.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Those two separate components of the mixture gradually dissolve into each other creating a homogenous solution that will not separate.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Before a true and inseparable solution is formed, ethanol poor parts of the mixture can sink below ethanol rich parts and ethanol poor solution can sink below ethanol rich solution.<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore, the key is to continue mechanical mixing until the mixture has formed a homogenous solution throughout. As you have discovered, dissolution may take more on the scale of hours while mixing requires just minutes. Sorting this
out will require some repeated testing of layers, as you have done, each time allowing some time after mechanical mixing for any possible separation (I suspect a few hours), until you are confident your mixture has become a homogenous solution.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I suspect many people on this list will be interested in your results so please do share. Could also make for an interesting poster at our next SPNHC meeting and an entry in STASHC.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rob<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-CA">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-CA"> Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace)<br>
<b>Sent:</b> September 6, 2022 9:40 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Mixing EtOH<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Hello all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I have a question about mixing storage strength (70%) undenatured EtOH. Typically we add the correct proportions of 95% EtOH and water to a container and paddle or invert the container repeatedly to mix the liquids, and
allow it to sit for ~24+ hrs. The containers we like best to use for dispensing 70% EtOH are 20L plastic water containers with a tap at the bottom. Recently we used our digital alcohol meter to test the alcohol concentration from the top and bottom (tap) of
one of these containers and found the alcohol concentrations wildly different - ~80% at the top and ~60% at the bottom – despite having been mixed more than 24 hours earlier. This makes me really concerned that we could be regularly using concentrations that
are much above 70% with specimens. I wonder if any of you have had a similar problem, or if anyone can suggest a solution? Is there a better way of mixing or of ensuring the solution is properly combined? Any thoughts appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Tonya<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">-------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Dr. Tonya M. Haff<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Australian National Wildlife Collection<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">CSIRO<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">+61(0)419569109<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/collections/anwc">https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/collections/anwc</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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