Chemistry Disposal

[nsurit]

How are folks disposing of the chemistry created during the processing of their alt. process prints such that it doesn't end up in someone's drinking water? Bill Barber

 

[David William White]

Tell them not to drink out of the sewer.

 

[ann]

basically flushing down the drain with large amounts of water.

there isn't as much chemical residue left as there are with silver printing. at least not with the processes we are doing. i.d. cyanotype, vandyke brown and palladium.

 

[nsurit]

Hmm, guess I should have been more specific. I have a septic system and what goes in there eventually ends up in the aquifer. I'm not really interested in doing that. Bill Barber

 

[David William White]

Ok, could be a concern depending upon the chemicals & if in vast quantity. Are you looking into alt process and want to find the most benign, or are you looking for proper storage/disposal of specific chemicals?

 

[nsurit]

Both would be valuable. I've just started doing some and fell like it is something I would like to continue. The house with the septic is being built and I'm currently doing the alt processing at a educational facility. In a few months that will not be the case as I will be in my new home with a dedicated darkroom. So far, I've done a little cyanotype, VDB and a tiny bit of platimum/paladium. Bill Barber

 

[David William White]

I'll have to advise you to read the MSDS sheets on the chemicals in question. However, most references on the alt processes will agree that:

In cyanotype, if you stick to the traditional recipe, mishandling the raw chemicals (powder) is more of a risk than handling/disposing of the solutions. Ferric Ammonium Citrate is used as a food additive, and Potassium Ferricyanide will not decompose or otherwise present any toxic risk, even in the body. You can further avoid the possible inhalation risk by purchasing both of these as solutions. As you know, the mixed cyanotype working solution can be handled without gloves. Kid safe, even. You are applying a few millilitres per sheet and the 'fixing' is done with running water. In your septic system, we are talking about parts per billion and those parts are benign. The exciting mineral is iron and there is no hypo (fixer), even.

For Van Dyke Brown, we're still using Ferric Ammonium Citrate (which you can buy in solution), tartaric acid -- derived from grapes, and good ol' Silver Nitrate solution. The Silver Nitrate is the only bit you need to be careful of, but only in handling. It's not known to be toxic in the quantities we use, but it will stain anything it comes in contact with, so wear safety goggles, gloves, and don't touch your eyes. Again, you are applying millilitres to the paper and a fraction of that will wash out in the fixer and rinse. Parts per billions, so no need to worry about the leaching into the water table.

VDB does use fixer (and this is reused) and it is arguably the fixer that is the most controversial. Spent fixer will contain silver and iron and some have argued that it needs to be disposed of in a responsible manner.

Labs in your area all need to dispose of spent developer, bleach (for colour), and fixer, and obviously in much larger quantities than you will generate. Although there are no practical or urgent health risks, some municipalities are now requiring labs to recycle fixer, etc. You might enquire with some of your local labs of how that is done in your area. Also, you may decide to recycle your own fixer, or at least stretch it substantially through simple silver reclamation.

I can't speak with any authority on Pt/Pd or any of the exotic toning chemistry (gold, etc.), but I'm sure that cyanotype and VDB pose no special problems or considerations as far as rinsing your prints.

Moving on, can we see one of your cyanotypes?

 

[AgX]

Bill,

Here in Germany we are mad about assorting & recycling which makes us have many, many heaps at home… (just counted 11…)

Included in our municipal fee for waste disposal is a collecting service for chemical waste. Here a collecting truck comes to a certain place in the communty twice a year up to once a month (depending on community). Alternatively one can bring ones chemical waste to a county collecting place which is openend 6 days a week. However for this daily accessibility a fee is asked. One has to bring in the chemical in a container in which it will stay until being recycled or incinerated.

Disposal of any photographic processing bath (independent of volume) via the sewer is forbidden by law in Germany (though not much people know about that, including part of the `industry´).

 

[aolsson]

Basically the same here as in Germany. We have a red box for any "special" garbage - batteries, chemichals. When it is full I send a short email with details on what is in it and it is take care of.

 

[nsurit]

Moving on, can we see one of your cyanotypes?

Sure, I'd be happy to post one to the forum. I'm headed out for a week in Big Bend National Park on Sunday, however will try to get it posted Saturday. Bill Barber