Empty Ilford (fixer) Hypam 5L jug to store water at room temp

[ymc226]

I've been using the 1 gallon thin water containers but they spring small leaks unpredictably.

The Ilford 5L jugs are very thick plastic and I think will last forever. I need large containers as I use the 8 reel capacity Paterson 4 system which takes 2.4 L at a time and I usually develop 3 tanks semi stand simultaneously.

I've rinsed it out with hot water several times, then filled it and put in a capful of bleach to try to get it cleaned up. Is this enough or did the fixer adsorb onto the plastic enough that I shouldn't even try?

 

[brucemuir]

If you look on the bottom of the bottle/jug there is a number
this indicates what type plastic was used
I always forget what the scale is because it's not logical but look here
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321
for explanations and what is the bet for us.

I do reuse the Sprint bottles from when I used to buy Sprint and although I try to keep developers in old dev bottles and fixers in an old fixer bottles this isn't always possible.

I also aquired a bunch of 1gallon used storage bottles from a local school darkroom.

I haven't had issues but that isn't to say this is a great practice.

I think if you use common sense (which it appears you already are doing ) it would be fine. I will admit I am paranoid using juice bottles for some things due to acid that could linger in the tops.

 

[brucemuir]

Okay i just read that page I linked.
It's okay but I saw a better page through google back when I was researching this myself.

Look around and you'll find a better explanation of the permeability of the plastics.

I seem to remember there was one that was the obvious choice for darkroom stuff but I forget the number

Someone chime in please.

 

[eclarke]

Go to the recycling center and see if you can get 1 gallon glass jugs...EC

 

[ymc226]

Thanks Bruce,

Does permeability of the plastic mean that the chemicals in the plastic leach into the solution or that the solution (fixer) will be incorporated into the plastic so future use in holding another liquid (plain water in my case) will be affected?

 

[brucemuir]

Some of those plastics can pass oxygen so they are not a good choice for anything that oxidizes.

I'm really unsure about the issues you are asking and I've fretted about them myself.

Someone will come along here soon and set us straight

 

[nworth]

just make sure the Hypam jug is very well washed out.

 

[michaelbsc]

Use the Ilford fixer wash sequence a few times. Use hot water from the faucet.

Even though it isn't my film, I'll bet you'll. R ok.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

I've been using the 1 gallon thin water containers but they spring small leaks unpredictably.

The Ilford 5L jugs are very thick plastic and I think will last forever. I need large containers as I use the 8 reel capacity Paterson 4 system which takes 2.4 L at a time and I usually develop 3 tanks semi stand simultaneously.

I've rinsed it out with hot water several times, then filled it and put in a capful of bleach to try to get it cleaned up. Is this enough or did the fixer adsorb onto the plastic enough that I shouldn't even try?

Ilford use a high grade of HDPE in their bottles.

If you have washed it out a few times and added a bit of domestic bleach just to be sure - you will be fine.

The level of any chemical de-absorbtion will be indetectable

The bottles are robust and cope with mis-handling well

Martin