Dear all.
Yesterday I found a jar of invaluable formaline-fixed animals from more than 20 years ago. At some point the liquid (not sure if still formaline ir 70% ethanol) evaporated and the specimens dried out. Can anyone point me towards a protocol to restitute these specimens?
Thanks.
There are many recommendations on this issue, but the success or failure of the protocol depends of the degree of damage of the material (still, formaline-fixed specimens use to resist the drying more than ethanol-fixed ones).
My recommendation is to rehydrate the specimens in an ascendant series of ethanol. Since this is an old material you should start with 30% ethanol and follow with 40%, 50%, 60%, 24 hr each. Finally, use 70% ethanol and after 72 hr verify the concentration of the ethanol with a alcoholimeter. If the concentration descends complete it to 70% using absolute ethanol. Check it again after 72 hr and repeat the process until the stabilization of the concentration.
If the jar presents some kind of sediment wash carefully the jar and the specimens with the 30% before start the ascendant series.
Still, this is not a exact science.
Good luck.
Dear Jans Morffe ,
Thank you very much! I hope they can be restored.
Best wishes.
Dear Fernando Ángel Fernández-Álvarez,
I assume that you are referring to dry marine invertebrate samples. I compiled some recommendations to restore dry centipede specimens. Parts of the protocol may be useful to you. You can find it at: https://www.researchgate.net/project/NMNH-SI-New-World-Scolopendromorpha-Online-Database/update/5ad893fdb53d2f63c3c6c84c
Warm regards,
Carlos
Dear Carlos,
Thank you for your answer.
Best regards,
Fernando
Check these two links. They include a discussion of several papers.
http://www.cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/1997/1433.html
https://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/2001-February/000353.html
- Badges
- Science topic