Pohlstoffe

Pohlstoffe (umlaut on the second 'o') is a rapid softening agent for
dried plant structures . It's chemical composition is 1% dioctyl
sodium sulfosuccinate (commercially sold as 'Aerosol OT'), 25%
methyl alcohol, and 74% distilled water.

Is there a chance that crosslinking could occur with the plant
material?  Would DNA be damaged? Because of the presence of methyl
alcohol, is the solution corrosive?  If the plant specimen is rinsed
in distilled water after it softens, is corrosiveness something not
to worry about?  If anyone has had any experience re-mounting
fragile herbarium specimens, would humidifying be the best
alternative for softening plant specimens?

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:56
                Distributed: Tuesday, December 10, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-56-013
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