[Nhcoll-l] Formalin transfer

[Robert Waller]

Hi Mandy,
The vapor pressure of formaldehyde in aqueous solutions that are less than 40%w/v is real (we can smell it) but considerably lower than the vapor pressure of water in the solution. Therefore, unless the surrounding atmosphere is very close to 100%RH (speculating, perhaps > 99%), then water will be leaving the solution faster than formaldehyde does. Therefore, keeping a lid on makes more sense than leaving it off if the goal is extracting formaldehyde while keeping formaldehyde concentration as low as possible in the solution.
Best,
Rob

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Mandy Reid
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 9:17 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: Rhiannon Stephens <Rhiannon.Stephens at Australian.Museum>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Formalin transfer

We are currently working on a large project at the Australian Museum to transfer our entire mollusc collection out of formalin (in which it has been stored for historical reasons) and into ethanol for long term preservation.

We normally soak each specimen lot out in 3 changes of water in a fume hood with lids left off the containers/vials etc. to assist with degassing of the formaldehyde in solution. Our problem is a bottleneck in our workflow due to limitations imposed by our fumehood work space. I am wondering whether others in the group have faced similar issues and whether soaking out can possibly be done in water but leaving the lids on the containers (hence could be done on a lab bench after pouring off the formalin in the fume hood)? We don't have a way to measure residual formalin after the soaking-out process so don't know whether or not this will be effective.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Mandy

Dr Mandy Reid
Collection Manager | Malacology
Australian Museum  1 William Street Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
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