Metol shelf life.

[Radost]

Is metol change in color the only indication that is not good?

 

[Augustus Caesar]

I have some that is decades old and it works fine. Just keep it closed tight and store in cool place.

 

[dynachrome]

The best advice for finding out whether a batch of metol is good is to mix up some D-23 and try it. Someone recently wrote about this subject and I will pass along what he said. Years ago when I could get metol from Kodak, under the Elon name, I saw that it could last a long time. It still worked after it started to turn a pale tan color. Kodak's chemicals were very high in quality. Metol comes from different places today and may contain contaminants which the Kodak product didn't. In any case, metol is still available and can be used to make up many different formulas. First a beginner, I would recommend D-23.

 

[xkaes]

I agree. Just test it. Expose a small piece of film X of typical scenes at the assigned ISO and develop according to the manufacture. If it's bad, you won't even need to make prints.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Colour is often not a reliable indicator of degradation of Metol.

There is a test for purity of Metol:

Oxidized metol?

I have bought some metol, and it is not a white powder, like I have seen, but a dark gray, with some clumping. Is the metol oxidized and unusable for use in makig film developer?

www.photrio.com

Oxidized metol?

I have bought some metol, and it is not a white powder, like I have seen, but a dark gray, with some clumping. Is the metol oxidized and unusable for use in makig film developer?

www.photrio.com

 

[Radost]

It’s not oxidized but lived almost 2 years in 75F But dry and tight closed
I guess is temp alone a factor?

 

[koraks]

almost 2 years in 75F But dry and tight closed

Then it should be like-new. No worries.

Moisture is the main enemy.

 

[Radost]

Then it should be like-new. No worries.

Moisture is the main enemy.

Don't have that problem in the Nevada desert. I have a first Bach 2012 American made VW Passat and will drive it till I die. Everything under looks like new!

 

[mshchem]

drive it till I die

I hope not!

 

[Radost]

Ha