Ilford Bromophen. Safe to store as a concentrate?

NiallerM · Sep 26, 2024

Hi,

Firstly, I've searched to see if this has been covered, so my sincere apologies if it has.

My question is this: I have a box of Ilford Bromophen, which makes up to 5 litres of developer. Would it be unadvisable to instead use the entire box to make up a litre, with the solution to be further diluted 1 + 4 when needed?

MattKing · Sep 26, 2024

It probably won't all go into solution at that dilution.
But the idea of mixing a slightly more concentrated solution for initial storage in one or more good containers with very little air in them is a good idea.

NiallerM · Sep 26, 2024

Maybe I'll try two litres. Yup, it's a lot of powder to dissolve.

I should really have included a disclaimer. Any suggestions I adapt are entirely at my own risk and will be treated by me entirely on the basis that any negative outcome is my fault.

miha · Sep 26, 2024

Your box of ~~Micropen~~ Bromophen makes 5 liters of stock solution, which is further diluted 1+3 with water just before use. It is a very robust developer with a long shelf life as a stock solution. I last mixed my box of Bromophen in March 2022 (!) and stored it in 5 one-liter glass bottles. It is still going strong -I was printing last Saturday and got excellent results.

Light straw color, a few flakes at the bottom, but still at "full power" no loss in quality or performance even after two and a half years.

NiallerM · Sep 26, 2024

miha said:
Your box of Micropen makes 5 liters of stock solution, which is further diluted 1+3 with water just before use. It is a very robust developer with a long shelf life as a stock solution. I last mixed my box of Bromophen in March 2022 (!) and stored it in 5 one-liter glass bottles. It is still going strong -I was printing last Saturday and got excellent results.

View attachment 379474

Light straw color, a few flakes at the bottom, but still at "full power" no loss in quality or performance even after two and a half years.

Cheers. I'll do that. I was hoping to make a smaller quantity, but 5 litres won't take up much space and I'll bottle it in a few bottles. It's extraordinarily cheap stuff, to be fair.

ETA: And of course you're right. That is 5 litres of stock.

mshchem · Sep 26, 2024

I keep Bromophen stock solution in PET bottles (soda bottles are made from PET) I use 250mL bottles and 1 L bottles. The 250mL bottles are super handy to make 1L of working strength developer. I really like Bromophen .

mshchem · Sep 26, 2024

miha said:
Your box of ~~Micropen~~ Bromophen makes 5 liters of stock solution, which is further diluted 1+3 with water just before use. It is a very robust developer with a long shelf life as a stock solution. I last mixed my box of Bromophen in March 2022 (!) and stored it in 5 one-liter glass bottles. It is still going strong -I was printing last Saturday and got excellent results.

View attachment 379474

Light straw color, a few flakes at the bottom, but still at "full power" no loss in quality or performance even after two and a half years.

Perfect!!!

john_s · Sep 26, 2024

I think you'd be able to mix it double strength. I have found that it's usually successful.

Ilford Bromophen. Safe to store as a concentrate?

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