ID68 becomes cloudy after first use

[Anon Ymous]

Hi

I occasionally mix some ID68 in 500ml batches, always use it undiluted and I'd like to reuse it. A day or two after it has been used once the solution becomes cloudy and some particles can be seen in suspension. Given enough time they will precipitate and create a dark gray layer at the bottom of the bottle. This precipitate has nothing to do with water hardness; I've mixed ID68 with deionised water and with tap water + 2g/l Sodium Hexametaphosphate, the result is always the same.

So, the question is, has anyone else experienced this behavior? Is there something that can be done to prevent it?

Thanks in advance

 

[Ian Grant]

You get the same with ID-11/D76, Microphen, Xtol etc and developer that's re-used. some of it will be very fine silver particles due to the slight solvency affect of the Sodium Sulphite they take quite a time to settle, you'll also gradually pick up bits of dust, when I used developers like this replenished I'd filter through a coffee filter every few months or decant of the sludge at the bottom. It's quite normal and has no adverse effects.

Ian

 

[Anon Ymous]

I noticed something similar when using replenished Xtol, but it was nowhere near as heavy and it became obvious much later. Anyway, everything is fine if it's normal.

 

[Rudeofus]

Ian, I notice the same thing whenever I mix E6 FD (home brew, Tetenal kit, doesn't matter), and the amount of sludge, which build up gradually over time, is in no relation to the amount of silver which could possibly get dissolved.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I had this problem with replenished Xtol also. The developer is still just fine, but after using for a while there is a heavy buildup of particles. I filtered my whole jug of working stock and now filter again before I use and before it goes back in the jug. My working stock is now crystal clear with the double filtration. Might be overkill, but puts my mind at ease anyway.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

The OP does not indicate whether the developer is made up with tap water or whether they use a presoak. It is also unclear whether the developer is used immediately after mixing. The precipitate could be merely calcium sulfite precipitating. Sometime this takes a few hours and so may not be directly related to re-use. Please note that I said calcium sulfite and not calcium sulfate.

 

[Anon Ymous]

I've mixed ID68 with deionised water, but also with tap water + 2g/l sodium hexametaphosphate. It made no difference. If I don't use Hexametaphosphate with tap water, then calcium sulfite usually precipitates within 15' or so. For the record, I always presoak.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Well that eliminates my theory. with a chelating agent present you should not see calcium precipitate out. My question about presoaking was that carryover of tap water into the developer could add calcium ions.

One more thing, if your tap water is very hard then Kodak recommended doubling the amount of chelating agent.