Lifespan of scratch mixed paper developers (e.g. D-72)

[Tom Kershaw]

Last Sunday I mixed up some D-72 working solution 1+2 dilution from a litre I'd scratched mixed approximately a year ago, with about 3/4 left in the bottle and no attempt made to remove air. To my surprise the developer worked as if it was made a week ago. Are there any general guidelines or expectations for standard concentration (i.e. not 1+9 dilution commercial liquid concentrates) paper developer longevity?

Tom

 

[dancqu]

Good for a While

Are there any general guidelines or expectations for
standard concentration (i.e. not 1+9 dilution commercial
liquid concentrates) paper developer longevity? Tom

You are referring to Home Brews? I'd say no save for
each individuals experience. Consistency in preparation,
ingredients including water, and storage will allow for
more sure expectations. Dan

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Home brew, yes.

Tom

 

[Anon Ymous]

Tom, according to Kodak's technical publication J1 (page 24), D72 will last 6 months in full stoppered bottles, and 2 months in half full stoppered bottles. Of course, that's a rather conservative figure and it also doesn't mean that the solution is useless after that amount of time, and as Dan said storage conditions matter. You probably need to mix some fresh D72 and make a side by side test to see what has changed.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Tom, according to Kodak's technical publication J1 (page 24), D72 will last 6 months in full stoppered bottles, and 2 months in half full stoppered bottles. Of course, that's a rather conservative figure and it also doesn't mean that the solution is useless after that amount of time, and as Dan said storage conditions matter. You probably need to mix some fresh D72 and make a side by side test to see what has changed.

Sure. I was simply surprised at the activity of the year old developer.

Tom