[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Transferring specimens from denatured alcohol

[Dirk Neumann]

... maybe worth adding: within the EU, technically denatured ethanol used MEK as a denaturant, which is - among other uses - can be used as running agent in chromatography, i.e. it dissolves colour and stains dark pigments very well.

Depending on the total ethanol volume that is needed, it might be worth using undenatured ethanol for the plants, or to test, if the original blue coloured ethanol contains MEK. If not, and if there is no immediate conservation issue that requires changing of the ethanol, it might be worth considering the risks of transfer with regard to MEK.

Hope this helps
Dirk



Am 14.07.2026 um 14:48 schrieb 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><mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> namens Becky Desjardins <rebeccadesjardins39 at gmail.com><mailto:rebeccadesjardins39 at gmail.com>
Datum: dinsdag 14 juli 2026 om 14:11
Aan: <Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu><mailto: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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--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael H. Wappelhorst
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