[Nhcoll-l] [External] Re: [EXTERN] Transferring a worm to new fixative

Wed Mar 25 14:20:11 EDT 2026

should have a really low pH plus the vivid yellow stain. But still should not give that peeling if dipped into formalin, because Bouin and formalin have a lot in common.

Am 25.03.2026 um 18:44 schrieb John E Simmons:
Interesting idea. Picric acid usually colors the alcohol bright yellow, but I have seen some old containers of specimens in Bouin's Solution that were more orange than yellow. I had not thought of that... Does anyone know of a test for picric acid?

John E. Simmons
US Fulbright Senior Scholar
Writer and Museum Consultant, Museologica
and
Research Associate, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery, Penn State University
and
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima

On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 1:32 PM Opitz, Cindy E <cindy-opitz at uiowa.edu<mailto:cindy-opitz at uiowa.edu>> wrote:
Given the acrid smell, could it be a picric acid solution? Is there a test for that?

Cindy Opitz
Director of Research Collections
Museum of Natural History and Old Capitol Museum
Instructor, Museum Studies Certificate Program
The University of Iowa
11 Macbride Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Office: 319.335.0481
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of John E Simmons
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 12:13 PM
To: Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de<mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>>
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [External] Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Transferring a worm to new fixative

Try using the salting out method to see if it tests positive for isopropyl, ethanol, or formaldehyde

Finkelde, I., and R.R. Waller. 2020. Salting out: A simple and reliable method to distinguish between common fluid preservatives and estimate alcohol concentration. Collection Forum 34(1): 11-31.

John E. Simmons
US Fulbright Senior Scholar
Writer and Museum Consultant, Museologica
and
Research Associate, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery, Penn State University
and
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima

On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 1:07 PM Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de<mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>> wrote:
Hi Nate,

'skin started peeling' sounds odd and might point to density differences. Can you tell if this is a water-based or alcohol-based preservative?

Could also be an oil-based preservative with very high density. But guess it is worth figuring out in what the specimen sits before starting to move it into something else, if there is such a strong reaction like peeling skin.

Not much, but perhaps a useful thought.

With best wishes
Dirk

Am 25.03.2026 um 17:57 schrieb Shoobs, Nate:
Hey all,
We have a display specimen of a Giant Australian earth worm (Megalascides) with no data in our collection. It's in nice condition, but the fluid it's preserved in is quite dark orange (presumeably colors leeched from the animal) and thus it makes the specimen hard to see and appreciate.

I want to transfer it to fresh fluid so it's easier to examine, but I can't figure out what it's preserved in. I initially thought it was in 10% formalin, but test-dipping a portion of the animal in a fresh jar of 10% formalin caused a pretty immediate visible reaction (skin started peeling). The preservative is definitely not ethanol. It has an acrid odor like formalin. I don't have Schiff's reagent on hand. The specimen was acquired in the mid 60s early 70s, so I think it rules out many of the more obscure Victorian fixatives.

Any suggestions on a protocol to safely transfer it to a fixative that is less opaque (fresh formalin or ethanol)? The primary purpose of the transfer is for display and teaching, as the specimen is uncatalogued and has no data other than the ID, so the only thing that matters in this case is making sure it's not ruined aesthetically. (And of course, making sure I can figure out what the old preservative is to safely dispose of it).

-Nate
-
Nathaniel F. Shoobs, Curator of Mollusks
College of Arts & Sciences Dept. of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University
Museum of Biological Diversity
1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH 43212
614-688-1342 (Office)
mbd.osu.edu<http://mbd.osu.edu/>

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_______________________________________________
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
society. See http://www.spnhc.org<http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.
Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.

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Dirk Neumann
Collection Manager, Hamburg

Postal address:
Museum of Nature Hamburg
Leibniz Institute for the Analysis
of Biodiversity Change
Dirk Neumann
Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3
20146 Hamburg
+49 40 238 317 – 628
d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de<mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>
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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 Wappelhorst

--
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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