Decanting HC-110

[Mike Kennedy]

Would it be safe to decant my developer into smaller,sterile 500ml water bottles. These containers come from my bottled water guy and are sealed at the plant with fresh H2o. Thought I would pour the water into a glass and top off the plastic units with HC-110 adding marbles to keep the liquid level with the bottles brim.
Any unforeseen problems?
Thank You,
Mike

 

[JHannon]

I have done the same with some glass bottles I bought from Photographer's Formulary (500ml with screw top). I also bought a 6 ml Mixing Syringe that has a long tube to get at the bottom of the bottle.

It seems to be working for me.. Just make sure there is no water in the bottles. Dry completely when you dump out the water.

Regards,
John

 

[jon]

I tried the marbles with decanted HC110 and it's so thick I just ended up wasting developer as it coated the marbles. Draining it off the marbles was a pain, but it was worth it -- you'd be surprised how much can cling to them.

I'm prety sure it'll keep fairly well without them anyways, or just use some dust-off to force out the air.

 

[Gerald Koch]

Would it be safe to decant my developer into smaller,sterile 500ml water bottles. Any unforeseen problems?

Depends on the type of plastic the bottles are made from. The main problem would be oxygen diffusing through the plastic. PETE polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) are better at protecting against oxidation than other plastics. You can identify the plastic by the recycle number inside the triangle on the bottle. PETE is 1 and PVC is 3.

However, for long term storage, which I think is what you intend, I would recommend glass rather than plastic.

 

[BradS]

I use small (4 oz) amber glass bottles with...hmmm, can't think of the name but the caps have a plastic cone inside that makes 'em seal really well. These I purchase from a local chem lab supply place. They are cheap....$0.80 each for the bottles and $0.24 for the caps. When I open a new bottle of HC-110, I immediately decant the entire contents into the little glass bottles...

Never bothered with marbles, "blowing out the air" or, any of that...not really worth it. The concentrate keeps very well and I run through the little bottles much faster than the stuff can go bad. It turns color a little bit but that does not seem to have a significant effect on results.

 

[titrisol]

HC-110? why? It has a very long life and doesn't oxidize.

If it was Xtol or D76 I'd say your approach is correct but for HC-110, Rodinal and a couple others why bother?

 

[BradS]

Indeed. I have to agree. I only decant to smaller bottles for the convenience. It's much easier to get the syring into the little glass bottle than t is to reach it down into the big Kodak bottle.

 

[Donald Qualls]

If it's syrup, it's fine to decant -- I broke up my first pint into four 4-ounce bottles, originally sold with grape juice (for kids). Clearly relabeled and stored in a home with no children, I might add. The last of that pint was used up about a year after I opened the big bottle, still perfect in every way. The next time I bought the bigger bottle; it's in a pair of 12 ounce glass jars and a couple of those same plastic bottles. I expect it'll be fine for the foreseeable future.

If you're really worried about it, you could get a can of butane lighter fuel and (away from sparks and flames) shoot a little of the fuel into the top of the open bottle just before closing it each time you use some. I don't think it's necessary, but it doesn't seem to hurt.

 

[hortense]

HC-110? why? It has a very long life and doesn't oxidize.

This is true. I've used HC110 concentrate sitting on the shelf for God knows how long; was really brown. NO problem. This is one of the reasons I've used it for so many years.