I have few sample of Weevils preserved in alcohol (absolute Ethanol). This was for the DNA-barcoding purpose. But now I required to do Scanning Electron microscopic photography of the specimens. I am totally unaware about the usefulness of alcohol preserved samples for SEM. If so, how can i deal with samples for preparing for SEM?
I also would carefully dry the specimens. Abrupt exposure to vacuum will severely damage them.
Yes, you can dry your specimens with a series of changes of ethyl alcohol from 70% to anhydrous alcohol.
I believe they are beetles, so just air dry them overnight to get rid of alcohol.
hello:
my sugestion is to have two smaples;
to start with ,your sample is in (absolute Ethanol) which is really anhydrous ,therefore i suggest you experiment with two sample
the fist sample goes from anhydrous alcohol to critical point drying
the second sample you can use my technique the camphene technique ,i used this technique when my sample were in 70 % alcohol and they were frafgie bacteria and i got good results ad published a paper : 1. Galil, K.A. and Gwinnet, A.J. (1973) Application of the camphene technique in the examination of teeth by scanning electron microscopy. Arch Oral Biol. 18, 925-928.
this way you can pick which technique gives you better results
i have enclosed the publication here .
best of Luck
Prof Galil
for SEM you can preserve in 70% alcohol for short period and 100 % for molecular for long period.
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