Adding Sodium Sulfite ?

[aoluain]

Is there any added benefit in adding Sodium Sulfite to an existing developer?

I use Ilfosol 3 chemicals mostly diluted to 1:14 with various films.
I have read that Sodium Sulfite has an effect on the Silver Hallides
on the film, reducing development times and increasing contrast.

Im not too bothered about the time but am interested in boosting
the overall look of the Negs in developing . . .

will sodium sulfite give me this? can it simply be added to Ilfosol 3?

 

[Anon Ymous]

If you want to increase contrast, you can always increase development time. No need to mess with sodium sulfite. Increasing sulfite levels may increase pH, which will make a more active developer, it will smooth grain, and you'll lose some film speed.

 

[phritz phantom]

isn't sodium sulfite the preservative? and increasing the amount would slow down the reaction?
for a more active developer, my first guess would be to add more sodium carbonate.

 

[Anon Ymous]

isn't sodium sulfite the preservative? and increasing the amount would slow down the reaction?
for a more active developer, my first guess would be to add more sodium carbonate.

It is a preservative, but it also affects pH. A saturated solution of Na2SO3 has a pH level about 9 IIRC, certainly alkaline. D23 is a simple developer, consisting only of Metol and Na2SO3. In this case, it's also the alkali. Sodium carbonate will increase pH and make a stronger developer, but as I said earlier, I see no point in doing so.

 

[Ian Grant]

Sulphite is also a mild silver solvent and you get some physical development, which is why developers like ID-11/D76 build up a silver sludge and have a higher base fog as a result.

Some people used to add extra Sulphite to developers like Rodinal to try to get finer grain, but the inherent fine grain of modern films means it's not as effective.

Ian

 

[aoluain]

thanks for the comments . . . so over development will give more
contrast!

I had a frient who works in a lab source some SS for me, so Ill
put it on the top shelf and work away with the standard dev.

thanks again.

 

[dancqu]

A Low ph Activator

Isn't sodium sulfite the preservative? and increasing the
amount would slow down the reaction?
For a more active developer, my first guess would be to
add more sodium carbonate.

Ordinarily sodium sulfite is the least alkaline of all the film
developer activators; ph 10 +/-. D-76, D-23 and many variants
on those two use it. Sodium Metaborate, and carbonate in that
order increase the ph further. The later is in common use
with paper developers. With the carbonate papers will
develop in a very few minutes.

Off hand I believe sodium sulfite to be the only combination
activator and preservative. It and metol make a very
good low ph fine grain film developer. Dan