Cleaning Chemical Bottles

[Geoffsco]

I recently bought a Jobo processor which came with a set of used chemical bottles. According to the markings, these bottles have been used for E6 and C41 process, though I don't think they've been used in several years. At the moment, I only process B&W, and would like to use these bottles so I can use tempered water and chemistry.

Is is possible to clean them entirely, or will the chemicals have worked their way into the plastic? Am I better off buying new bottles for B&W, and keeping these aside for when I get into E6 and C41? I'm not even sure if these are available new these days.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

The usual cleaner is chromic acid - a concentrated version of dichromate bleach. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromic_acid This is usually used for laboratory glassware but TTBOMK, Kodak also recommends the stuff for cleaning processing equipment of organic deposits.

To remove silver deposits try this Kodak mixture: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/ti2000/ti2000.pdf, you can probably make your own from this list of ingredients http://www.lacrosselitho.com/library/MSDS/kpg%20150-0719.pdf: Sodium Bisulfite 200g; Sodium Sulfite 100g; Sodium Citrate 10g; water 1l.

One thing to keep in mind is that if the gunk doesn't come off when you clean the bottles then it, er, doesn't come off - and so it won't mix into the B&W processing chemicals.

 

[amac212]

Geoffsco, I acquired a JOBO a year ago and for some reason only just recently started wondering if the stained plastic (labeled e-6 and ektaprint) could leach and taint my C41 or B/W development. I have had no issues whatsoever FWIW.
Still good to know about these links and resources for cleaning - thanks Nicolas Lindan!

 

[Monito]

Geoffsco, I acquired a JOBO a year ago and for some reason only just recently started wondering if the stained plastic (labeled e-6 and ektaprint) could leach and taint my C41 or B/W development. I have had no issues whatsoever FWIW.

No issues are to be expected. Any quantity that might leach out has been reduced by every usage with your new (C41 or B&W) chemistry. I assume you have dedicated one set to C41 and another set to B&W from now on. Even that is probably not necessary in practice if the drums are cleaned with warm water after each run. But personally I would devote one set of drums to C41 and another set to B&W just to put my mind at ease that one possible variable of inconsistency has been eliminated. Even if any crossover effect is surely too small to measure I wouldn't have to worry or think about it.

 

[Monito]

Am I better off buying new bottles for B&W, and keeping these aside for when I get into E6 and C41? I'm not even sure if these are available new these days.

I would take some used spent developer and put it into the bottle you wish to devote to developer and let it sit for a week in a warm spot of the house. That way any leaching or chemical exchange would go to equilibrium. Likewise with some stop bath and exhausted fix in respective bottles.

 

[Jim Noel]

I use Polident on old glass bottles. If one overnight treatment doesn't complete the job, a second one does. This wil likely work on plastic also.