Do you have any data to back up this claim? The only two benefits of acidic fixers are compatibility with hardening (which barely anyone uses any longer) and that you may avoid using a stop bath. There is absolutely nothing in these fixers which needs the acidity for longevity or fixer effectiveness.Likely not. The acidic pH is chosen based on ingredients and those ingredients specifically tend to be preserved best in acid. Same thing for alkali pH. If you're ok with a short tray life and non-rapid fixer, you can mix your own from cheap thiosulfate (hypo). It'll definitely be odorless, but will decay within hours once it fixes the first piece of film/paper
.................The characteristic smell of fixer is sulfur dioxide, not acid per se, so adding base to fiddle with the pH doesn't automatically reduce the smell unless that also prevents the formation of sulfur dioxide.
.......................I recommend, that you use Ammonia solution to raise fixer pH, since sodium ions will eventually slow down fixer.
Please tell me where you have this from. This matches neither my reading of literature, nor my practical experience.Once you start using it as a fixer, I guess that is when it will expire quickly. Acid fixers will keep much better, but will decompose eventually.
Please tell me where you have this from. This matches neither my reading of literature, nor my practical experience.
Consider TF4 or TF5. Both last a long time. PE developed TF5 and discussed its long life and advantages over other fixers.
Rudi,
You've set me straight yet again.
Do I have this right? it's just the compounded rapid fixers (with sulfite, etc.) that will go bad with time, but a simple 60% solution of ammonium thiosulfate will last indefinitely?
TIA,
Doremus
Do I have this right? it's just the compounded rapid fixers (with sulfite, etc.) that will go bad with time, but a simple 60% solution of ammonium thiosulfate will last indefinitely?
If the resulting liquid is acidic, Sulfur Dioxide will form and leave the solution (c.f. smell of rotten eggs).
It has been described in scientific literature, though, e.g. The Stability of Concentrated Thiosulphate Solutions at High Temperature. Part II: The Loss of Sulphite, by E. R. Brumpton and G. I. P. Levenson, in The Journal of Photographic Science, vol 13, p 79ff. The attached graph shows this effect including the increase in thiosulfate concentration during fixer decay.
Mr. Bill: the article I quoted uses a highly concentrated fixer at elevated temperatures to show the claimed effect. This is not also not a rapid fixer - it's based on Sodium Thiosulfate.
Another big difference between this article and your lab setup is pH: color processes typically used pH close to neutral, whereas the effect observed in this article happens slightly above pH 4.0.
This is what the chart posted by me clearly shows: sulfite going going going, and as soon as it's gone, the fixer sulfurs out. What this chart also shows: even if you keep Oxygen completely out of your acidic fixer, it will eventually sulfur out. So basically yes, you need sulfite, and as long as the fixer is neutral or alkaline, the sulfite will actually stay in the fixer.What I'm trying to emphasize is that a thiosulfate-based fixer should always have a surplus of sulfite ion in it. I've never seen a fixer come apart as long as it still had spare sulfite.
...................., and a continuous Kodak paper processor with one of those 5 foot diameter chrome drum dryers.........
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