[NHCOLL-L:2396] RE: Fixing with Formalin and Reactions with Plastics

[Simmons, John E]

You should try to use a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or something
with similar resistance to oxygen permeance.  Because formaldehyde tends
to acidify in the presence of oxygen, a very permeable plastic may leave
your system prone to acidification even if you use a good buffer for the
formaldehyde.  Do you know what kind of plastic the pond liners are made
from?

 

--John

 

John E. Simmons

Collection Manager, Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research
Center

and

Director, 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.nhm.ku.edu/herpetology/ <http://nhm.ku.edu/herpetology/> 

www.ku.edu/~museumst/

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of jonathan ablett
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 4:30 AM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:2389] Fixing with Formalin and Reactions with
Plastics

 

I am about to fix a large squid specimen prior to display and plan to do
this in a purpose-built container lined with heavy duty plastic (pond 
liner material or similar) The specimen would be left in 5 - 10%
formalin solution for no more than a month.

Does anyone have information or experience  which could alert me  to any
hazards or drawbacks inherent in the use of commercial-grade plastic in
such a situation?

Any information would be of great help




Mr Jonathan Ablett
Curator of Non-Marine Mollusca
Division of Invertebrates I
Zoology Department
Natural History Museum
London SW7 5BD

tel: 020 7942 5996
fax:020 7942 5216 

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