[NHCOLL-L:1997] RE: wet collections questions

[Simmons, John E]

I think the Teflon liners hold up better, but I don't have any hard data to
back up this claim.  However, the polyethylene foam liners are fine--I have
never had any trouble with them at all, and polyethylene does not react with
alcohol.

Alcohol fumes are heavier than air, so they accumulate at floor level.  If
you put in a ventilation system for alcohol fumes, you will want it to
exhaust air at floor level.

In all likelihood, once you replace the metal and Bakelite lids you will not
have the fumes accumulating (unless containers are routinely opened in the
same room--are they?).  If you do still have fumes accumulating in the room,
you need to find out where they are coming from because you only have fumes
if something is leaking preservative.  Are you certain that what you smell
is alcohol fumes?  Perhaps you are smelling a cleaner or mold or something
else in the room.  Do you have a lot of evaporation from the containers?  Is
the odor stronger at floor level?  Does the room have any ventilation at
all?

Feel free to email me off-list or give me a call if you would like.

--John

John E. Simmons
Collection Manager, Natural History Museum
and
Coordinator, Museum Studies Program
University of Kansas
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7561
Telephone 785-864-4508
FAX 785-864-5335
jsimmons at ku.edu
www.ku.edu/~museumst/

-----Original Message-----
From: janet gillette [mailto:jgillette at MNA.mus.az.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 6:49 PM
To: 'NHCOLL-L at LISTS.YALE.EDU'
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:1988] wet collections questions

My background is paleontology collections so now that I've inherited care of
a small fluid preserved collection I'm in need of advice.  We have limited
support (~$500) to replace about 1,100 Bakelite and metal jar lids with more
appropriate museum quality lids & liners.  

I've done some research and found reference that polypropylene lids and &
Teflon liners are preferred.  In talking with representative of Kols
Containers I was told that while Teflon may be preferred, the reality is
that most institutions can't afford it and use foamed polyethylene liners
instead.  Is this true?  Is there a big difference in quality between the
two?  Should we settle for the polyethylene liners? 

Also, alcohol fumes in the wet collection room are very strong.  The room is
small, of cinder block construction, and lacks ventilation.  I'd like to
install an exhaust fan to vent fumes.  Should this fan be explosion
proof/spark proof?  I expect this will be expensive, perhaps well beyond our
budget.  Are there other safe alternatives?
 
Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Cheers,
Janet

Janet Whitmore Gillette
Assoc Collection Manager, Natural History
Museum of Northern Arizona
3101 N. Fort Valley Road
Flagstaff, AZ  86001
(928) 774-5211 ext 265
 jgillette at mna.mus.az.us