Keeping properties of Dimezone S, Phenidone, and Metol?

[Steve Goldstein]

My "room temperature" storage ranges from high-50s Fahrenheit in winter to low-70s in summer. Does anyone have a sense of shelf life for these chemicals under such conditions? I store Glycin in the deep freeze, but space in "my" part of the freezer is pretty tight, what with all the film.

Thanks!

 

[Kirk Keyes]

Decades for the dimezone, phenidone, and metol. I've had glycin lose strength in 2 years even when stored at 0F.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I learned an expensive lesson. Phenidone does not keep well in the heat and humidity of Florida especially when left in the original plastic jar. These chemicals should be stored in glass away from light, humidity and heat.

 

[piu58]

Dimezone is a Phenidone derivate developed for longer shelf life.

 

[Athiril]

I've got both Kodak Elon in glass jar very old that's fine. And also Kodak Hydroquinone and Metol in carboard boxes in plastic bags that were sorta open (decades old by the look I think), also fine.

 

[Kirk Keyes]

I learned an expensive lesson. Phenidone does not keep well in the heat and humidity of Florida especially when left in the original plastic jar. These chemicals should be stored in glass away from light, humidity and heat.

Jerry - did it get kind of gummy and not dissolve?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I put Phenidone and Dimezone in Propylene Glycol. It lasts a long time in Glycol, a few years at least. It is also easier to deal with a percentage solution since they are both potent which makes weighing out less than a gram problematic. I have never had Metol long enough to know how it lasts in dry form, although anecdotal evidence suggests it lasts a long time.

From what I understand, Dimezone is a derivative of Phenidone that is optimized for a long life in solution. It is pretty much interchangeable and I use it that way. For example, a version of E-72 paper developer I use lasts months and months. I usually end up throwing it away before it is kaput.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Jerry - did it get kind of gummy and not dissolve?

It resembled tar, black and gooey. I didn't even try to use it.

 

[Ian Grant]

I've Phenidone made in 1962, Metol, Hydroquinone etc from the 1950's all as good as new.

Ian

 

[ooze]

I've recently ordered Phenidone from a chemical factory. The sticker on the box states a shelf life of 2 years.

 

[nworth]

Kept perfectly dry, these chemicals will last almost indefinitely. I have some phenidone that is about 20 years old and is still good. Glycin is the only developing agent I know of that deteriorates quickly (in less than 2 years). If your environment is damp, however, developing agents may die much more quickly. I've heard tales of phenidone deteriorating in as little as three years in a humid environment. If metol starts clumping it is not a sign of certain deterioration, but I would treat it as suspect.