[Nhcoll-l] Help on two collections issues: mothballs and "rust" in fluids collections

[Nicholson, Kirsten E]

The thread on preciptates in fluids collections made me think of two problems we're having that I hope someone out there will have information to help us.


One is what looks like rust on fish in our fluids collections. Only a few fish exhibit this, but its a red coating on the fish that's easily brushed off and looks almost powdery in the water, just like rust. No idea what it is and we rinsed the fish off in EtOH and used soft brushes to remove the material and so far is has not returned but it has only been a few weeks. But what could the cause be?


Also, we had a loan returned to us that had been out for years and apparently the borrower put mothballs in the tote in which the specimens were stored. The specimens now WREAK of napthalene and our collections manager tried placing them in a box with baking soda (he had heard this would work with textiles and so tried it with our specimens). Its been nearly a year and the specimens smell pretty much the same. Any suggestions on how to remove the smell?


Thanks!


Kirsten


[CMU]


Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D (she, her, hers)

Professor | Biology Dept & Institute for Great Lakes Research | 2104 Biosciences

Natural History Curator | Museum of Cultural & Natural History | 103 Rowe

Central  Michigan University  |  Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

P: 989-774-3758 or 3829  |  F: 989-774-2612 or 3462

E: kirsten.nicholson at cmich.edu

Office Hours Spring 2018: Mon. & Wed., 3-5pm, 103 Rowe Hall







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