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Kodak D-78 (Athenon is glycin) Asenon

Fuji_Bro

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Hello I could not find a section of the website for Japanese users if there are many at all…my question is for the Kodak D-78 formula published by EKC Japan in their book from 1938.

It requests “アセノン” / “Asenon” or “Asenone”

I tried searching Google but it must be an obscure trade name by Kodak or chemical manufacturer.

I tried to find a printed D-78 formula in English but not found so far. I saw the formula given online in some places but they are different from what I have so I can’t effectively compare them for a better lead.

The formula is:

Water 750ml

Sodium Sulfite Anhydrous 3g
無水亜硫酸ソーダ

Asenon 3g
アセノン

Sodium Carbonate Anhydrous 6g
無水炭酸ソーダ

Water to make 1L


みなさんへアセノンが何ですか。このD-78写真処方は読んでしたにアセノンが中です。お邪魔しました

Thank you for the help.
 
I have a 1941 Kodak book titled Elementary Photographic Chemisty and the formula in it for D78 is the same as yours, except that "Asenon" is called Athenon, which is a trade name for Glycin.

As far as I know the only place to get Glycin now is the Photographers Formulary. Note that Glycin and Glycine are completely different chemicals.
 
Great minds think alike
 
My 2-second Google search turned up this:

The code "D-78" most commonly refers to
a specific glycin-based photographic developer formula used in black-and-white film processing. It was an official Kodak formula listed in their handbooks, and "glycin" was often referred to as "Athenon" in Kodak's internal terminology

Kodak D-78 Developer Formula

D-78 is known for being a slow, clean-working developer that provides low contrast and has good keeping properties. It was particularly popular as a paper developer, but was also noted as an excellent developer for film (e.g., FX2, Edwal 10, or D-78).

A common formulation for Kodak D-78 is as follows:

  • Water (at 125°F/52°C): 750 ml
  • Metol: 7 g
  • Sodium Sulfite (anhydrous): 70 g
  • Paraphenylenediamine: 7 g
  • Glycin: 7 g
  • Cold water to make: 1 liter
The chemicals should be dissolved in the order listed, making sure the metol is fully dissolved with a pinch of sulfite before adding the other ingredients.

Best,

Doremus
 
I have no idea where the above formula comes from but it doesn't match D-78 in Kodak's books. More AI nonsense I suspect.
 
Thank you thank you!

Yes correctly translating glycin from Japanese was a pain in the head last week. I need an industry/medical dictionary.

In case anyone in the future stumbles upon this thread:

Glycin グリシン
Glycine アミノ酢酸　(アミノさくさん)

 
These days we are better off using CAS numbers to identify specific chemicals. Glycin's number is CAS 122-87-2
 
Perfect I will add a column to my vocabulary spreadsheet for CAS numbers. Some old formula books would give the chemical makeup but the list is never exhaustive.
 
I have 2 or 3 brown glass bottles of Kodak Athenon. Crystals are tan, look better than one would expect for being 85 years old. I should try it.
 
As far as I know, this chemical is very unstable. I've long since given up on using it - I don't really have a reliable source that can guarantee it's fresh...
 
lamerko said:
As far as I know, this chemical is very unstable. I've long since given up on using it - I don't really have a reliable source that can guarantee it's fresh...
Click to expand...

Yep, back in my youth, 1980s I bought a 100 gram bottle of glycin from a scientific company for print developer. It worked fine for several years. Eventually turned into a brown blob.
 
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