Can old developer cause blank film?

[fatso83]

I developed three EFKE KB25 films yesterday, and they all came out blank (transparent)! Normally, I might mess up once in a while and put an unexposed film in the bag with the exposed, but three in a row?

I am wondering if I have somehow "wiped out" the images from the film by using old developer + too warm water when rinsing, but I am unsure if this is at all possible.

I thought old developer just caused uneven results, underdevelopment etc, but there were absolutely no traces of the films ever being exposed. Until last night, my Aculux developer had been unused for the last 8 months or so (opened it a year ago), and it had turned from yellow to dark brown (not a good sign). I still wanted to try it out though. So what do you think; are the chemicals doing this, or have I just tried developing three unused films?

 

[rwboyer]

If the developer is completely shot this can happen. What was the developer? I am assuming there are no edge markings either.

RB

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes it can, and almost certainly did. No developer can be used once it turns brown (except Rodinal) as that's a very sure sign that the developing agents have oxidised. Paeteron devs don't have a brilliant shelf life once opened.

Ian

 

[fatso83]

Thanks. You learn something every day ... After I f*cked the three films using the oxidized Aculux, I tried using a T-Max developer that had been opened at the same time (about a year ago) and that was just fine (no discoloration or odour). All the negatives using that came out fine, so I guess that means the shelf life really differs between brands.

@rwboyeratterson Aculux 2 is the name of the developer.