[Nhcoll-l] acetone on bones

[Neisskenwirth Fabian]

Dear Tonya,

Acetone is no problem at all. It the most used degreasing agent for smaller bones used in taxidermy for long time. Usually we do at least 3 baths.

One can use the baths for other steps, so you can save acetone.

This means:


-          Reuse the first bath on the second batch of bones and then reuse the second bath on the third batch. Until you have a total of 3 times used acetone for the first bath of each batch of bones. After 4 times used, the acetone is soaked with fat and can be disposed (in proper chemical disposal of course).

-          For the third and final bath always use fresh acetone.

You can leave them for a week for every step in the bath and there will be no damage at all.

Degreasing bones is the most important step for proper conservation. So I recommend you do this on every fresh made skeleton. Older fat is more difficult to dissolve, but still better than not doing anything.

Fat in bones becomes acid and subsequently damages the structure.


Hope this helps.


Cheers from Bern.

--
Fabian Neisskenwirth
Präparation
Naturwissenschaftlicher Präparator

+41 (0)31 350 72 35
NATURHISTORISCHES MUSEUM BERN
Bernastrasse 15, CH – 3005 Bern
www.nmbe.ch<http://www.nmbe.ch/>
Eine Institution der Burgergemeinde Bern<https://www.bgbern.ch/>

Von: Nhcoll-l [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] Im Auftrag von Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace)
Gesendet: Montag, 12. August 2019 05:01
An: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Betreff: [Nhcoll-l] acetone on bones

Hello all,

Just a quick question to confer on what people think about applying acetone to bones to clean them up a bit? We have some researchers who would like to apply this technique to some bird bones we sent them. In general I do not want chemicals applied to our bones, but I’m wondering what the consensus is on acetone?

Cheers,

Tonya

---------------------------------------------------------
Dr Tonya Haff
Collections Manager
Australian National Wildlife Collection
National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO
Canberra, Australia
Phone: (+61) 02 6242 1566 (office)
(+61) 0419 569 109 (mobile)

I am in Thursdays and Fridays
Please call or text my mobile for a fast reponse Monday – Wednesday

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