| Abstract: | The efficiency of water, ethanol solutions, isopropanol and ethylene glycol for extracting formaldehyde from fixed muscle tissue were compared. Similar samples of formalin preserved muscle were immersed in the test extraction fluids. After various storage periods the fluids were analyzed for formaldehyde content by sodium sulfite wet chemistry titration. The resulting data were compared by analysis of variance. Ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol and water were found to be effective in extracting formaldehyde from formalin fixed tissue. The concentration of formaldehyde extraction by increasing concentrations of ethanol (20–40%) was linear. While 25 to 40% solutions of ethanol, 20% isopropanol and 25% ethylene glycol were significantly better at extracting formaldehyde, the actual percent formalin difference between water and the best extraction fluid (40% ethanol) was only 0.2% (2.43 versus 2.63%). This slight difference would hardly justify the added expense of using alcoholic or glycolic solutions solely for their extraction qualities. The problem of formaldehyde vapirs arising from embalmed tissue is associated with unbound and loosely bound formaldehyde. which can be removed by washing with various solutions. Precise methods for washing gross anatomical specimens are not discussed. |
