Bleach turned green??

[Amador]

Hi All,

I mixed up a batch of legacy Pro sepia and bleach solution a few days ago. I toned about 6 prints, each time pouring the bleach solution back into the container. When I mixed it, it was yellow. I came home after the weekend, and it turned neon green while I was away! It was stored in a dark room in a clear glass bottle. Is this normal, or has something gone wrong?

Thank you for your help!

Chris

 

[awty]

Mine does the same, doesn't seem to affect the bleaching effect. Don't think bleach goes bad, just loses its effectiveness the more you use it.

 

[Amador]

Thanks for your reply! I’ll keep using it then.

Chris

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I don't sepia tone, but I use a rehalogenating bleach for print bleaching. Usually when mine turns green, it is past its useful life (usually contaminated with fixer) and I toss it.

IIWY, I'd keep a careful eye on my bleach to make sure it was staying active after it has turned green. Ferricyanide bleach only lives a short while after being mixed with sodium (or ammonium) thiosulfate (i.e., fixer).

Best,

Doremsu

 

[MattKing]

Doremus,
I don't think turning to green is a sign of fixer contamination, because mine turns green and I almost always bleach and/or tone prints after they have been fully washed and dried (and usually considered for a bit).

 

[koraks]

That's odd. My bleach generally takes several months to turn green. Ferricyanide bleach will react with acids to dorm Prussian blue, hence the green color when this happens in a yellow liquid...
Traces of acid from fixer are a likely source, but certainly not the only possibility.
Obviously wash well before bleaching because of the risk of losing highlights. Been there, done that...