Developer Oxidation

Mark_S · Jun 30, 2014

I use Ilford Multigrade Developer, which I usually dilute 1:9 for my working solution and I am pretty happy with the results. I buy the developer in the 5L containers which tend to last me about 6 months each, and yesterday, I just finished off another jug. I notice that the developer concentrate goes from a clear color when I first open a container and becomes darker as time goes on, with the darkening happening much faster as the container gets near the bottom. Other than resulting in a less clear liquid in the developing tray, does this have any other detrimental effects on the operation of the developer?

Rudeofus · Jun 30, 2014

The darker your developer becomes, the less active and the closer to its shelf life it is. At some point it will develop funky swirly patterns on your print that won't go away with prolonged development, or not develop at all. I'd say use it as long as it works, it's not like you can't repeat making a print.

Gerald C Koch · Jun 30, 2014

Mark_S said:
I notice that the developer concentrate goes from a clear color when I first open a container and becomes darker as time goes on, with the darkening happening much faster as the container gets near the bottom. Other than resulting in a less clear liquid in the developing tray, does this have any other detrimental effects on the operation of the developer?

What you observe is normal for any developer. That being said at some point the oxidized concentrate will fail to produce useable developer. There is also the possibility of staining with FB papers.

Pat Erson · Jun 30, 2014

According to my Ilford brochure an opened jug of stock Multigrade will be good for 6 months. After that... toss it.

I've had a painful experience with a jug of Eukobrom that had been opened 9 months ago. I got dull gray prints out of it and my 1st (gut) reaction was to blame the paper!

cliveh · Jun 30, 2014

If you are buying it in 5L quantities, you may make it last longer by decanting it into 1L bottles with no air space at the top.

Rich Ullsmith · Jul 2, 2014

I am eternally skeptical about expiration dates. The smell test is the gold standard.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 2, 2014

Rich Ullsmith said:
I am eternally skeptical about expiration dates. The smell test is the gold standard.

Manufactures are somewhat conservative in their expiration dates. This is because they cannot know how the product is stored once it is sold.

Regular Rod · Jul 2, 2014

You can avoid the worry completely by using a one-shot developer that you dispose of after the session.

RR

Rich Ullsmith · Jul 2, 2014

Or, just don't worry at all. I made 25 5X7 proofs over the course of monday and tuesday with a 250ml bottle of stock dektol, labeled 2006. Film is one thing, paper is quite another.

In keeping with the spirit of frugality, on monday I made a lasagna. I had forgotten ricotta on the shopping list! Lo, there in the back of the fridge was a pint of ricotta. 1 year past expiration. But it looked good, smelled good. And I'm still here.

Pharmaceuticals are the worst. Get a couple of drinks in a rep and they will admit, their "mandated" expiration dates on drugs are strongly motivated by profit and not science.

Mark_S · Jul 2, 2014

Regular Rod said:
You can avoid the worry completely by using a one-shot developer that you dispose of after the session.

RR

I do use developers one shot, but I mix from the concentrate. I will get some 1L bottles and decant the concentrate into those, that seems like a good idea, or just buy the developer in 1L bottles. If there were a local shop where I could purchase developer, that would make it easier! I have not noticed a change in how the developer works, but as I finished off the last bit of my last 5L bottle of concentrate, the colour was a very dark brown.

cliveh · Jul 2, 2014

Also, if you use cheap used plastic 1L water/drink bottles, you can scrunch up the bottle as you use it, thus minimising the developer to air surface. Or an alternative is to reuse the bag in wine boxes. Reverse the entire box to relabel so nobody drinks the developer and dispense with the spring loaded tap ensuring no air to developer surface as the bag collapses.

Developer Oxidation

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