[Nhcoll-l] Transferring specimens from denatured alcohol

[Andries J. van Dam]

Hi Becky,

 

Excerpt from paper by van Dam, A. J. and Brambilla, L. 2026. A review of interactions in fluid-preserved specimen collections

and their impact on conservation and collection maintenance. JoNSC. 14. pp.51-62. https://www.natsca.org/article/2929:

 

“Although its volatility and flammability present safety concerns, ethanol (70–80 vol %) remains the most widely used preservative when fire hazard is not a limiting factor. IMS might be used as an alternative in countries where no tax exemption applies for ethanol purchase for scientific uses. IPA, mostly used in a concentration of 50–60 vol %, reacts with air (oxygen) to form dangerously unstable peroxides (Sax and Lewis, 1989). Its long-term stability as a preservative is questionable (Simmons, 1995).”

 

Therefore, my advice would be to transfer the specimens to a mixture of ethanol 96% diluted with demineralized water to an end concentration of 70-75%.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Andries J. van Dam

--

Director Alcomon Company

https://alcomon.com/

 

Conservator (1983-2024) - Anatomical Museum Leiden University Medical Centre 

Directory Board member ICOM-CC (2008-2014)

Coordinator ICOM-CC Natural History Collections Working Group (2002-2008)

 

 

Van: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> namens Becky Desjardins <rebeccadesjardins39 at gmail.com>
Datum: dinsdag 14 juli 2026 om 14:11
Aan: <Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Onderwerp: [Nhcoll-l] Transferring specimens from denatured alcohol

 

Hello all,

 

At the Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht we have a series of aquatic plants that were preserved in Dutch "huishoudspiritus" which is blue colored (methylated?) denatured alcohol. I want to move them to ethanol..but is it better to move them to isopropyl? Thank you very much for your help.

 

Becky Desjardins 

 

 

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