[NHCOLL-L:1288] RE: testing fluid solutions

[Robert Waller]

The issue of false positive results in alcohol solutions was the reason we
designed our own test strips as described in the reference John Simmons
sent to the list.  That paper was also published in Curator 30(3), 240-249, 1987.
Rob

Robert Waller
Chief, Conservation
Canadian Museum of Nature
Box 3443, Station D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6P4
CANADA

phone:(613)566-4797
fax:     (613)364-4027
email: rwaller at mus-nature.ca 
WEB: www.nature.ca

>>> <Julian.Carter at nmgw.ac.uk> 01-10-16 4:27:00 am >>>
My experiences with testing fluid solutions following the lines of Robin
McPhee comments: basically I found the results from the Merck test strips
tended to give false positives with alcohol solutions, and found using the
Paar density meter of more benefit. The density readings Robin gave are
similar to my own results. However if you have a limited budget it is
possible to make a kind of density 'meter' - see Simon Moore in care and
Conservation of Natural History Collections edited by Carter and Walker -
which uses different densities of plastic beads and how they float in
different solutions to estimate the preservative type. Not used the method
myself, but know people who have and said it is pretty good.

Cheers 
Jules
Conservation Officer
National Museums and Galleries of Wales
Cathays Park
Cardiff, UK
CF15 8LF