Pyrocat HD Developer - Solution B Turned Brown

berarthbun · Jan 3, 2019

I just mixed up my first batch of Pyrocat HD last week. I went to develop some film and noticed that the solution B is a very dark brown color. I used distilled water and mixed both solutions in a glass jar and covered with a lid. Is the brown color normal?

Alan9940 · Jan 3, 2019

No. It should be clear.

Rick A · Jan 3, 2019

Solution A usually turns brown, never solution B, unless you didn't follow directions.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 3, 2019

That is weird. It's supposed to keep indefinitely. It should always be clear. Mix up a really small batch (100ml) and see what happens. If it's good, then the first batch must have gotten contaminated somehow...

berarthbun · Jan 3, 2019

Thanks for the replies. I figured that something is amiss. I just ordered a new batch and will try again.

Alan9940 · Jan 3, 2019

Oh, another thought I had that may have affected your B...don't ever mix the two concentrates. Use separate graduates or syringes for measuring out the concentrates. Always keep A and B separate until ready to mix the working solution.

juan · Jan 4, 2019

I’ve seen solution B go bad even though it’s supposed to be very stable. I worked out the gram amount of carbonate in the working strength developer and now simply add the dry carbonate to my working developer. That way there is no solution B.

Rick A · Jan 4, 2019

Alan9940 said:
Oh, another thought I had that may have affected your B...don't ever mix the two concentrates. Use separate graduates or syringes for measuring out the concentrates. Always keep A and B separate until ready to mix the working solution.

Yeah, cross contamination would definitely cause solution B to go bad. I use separate dosing syringes to draw and measure each solution, and have them clearly labeled "A" and "B", and wash them thoroughly after each use.

pentaxuser · Jan 4, 2019

juan said:
I’ve seen solution B go bad even though it’s supposed to be very stable. I worked out the gram amount of carbonate in the working strength developer and now simply add the dry carbonate to my working developer. That way there is no solution B.

I am not a user of Pyrocat HD as yet so this is just out of curiosity but you would appear to have found a solution to the problem that the OP has experienced. It sounds simpler as well but that makes me wonder why everyone doesn't use it.

Are there any drawbacks with your solution to the problem of adding dry carbonate and avoiding solution B?

Thanks

pentaxuser

jim appleyard · Jan 4, 2019

juan said:
I’ve seen solution B go bad even though it’s supposed to be very stable. I worked out the gram amount of carbonate in the working strength developer and now simply add the dry carbonate to my working developer. That way there is no solution B.

Yes, please share the details!

Alan9940 · Jan 4, 2019

pentaxuser said:
Are there any drawbacks with your solution to the problem of adding dry carbonate and avoiding solution?

I guess if this works for juan, it works. But, since the idea when mixing A and B together is minimal stirring to minimize aerial oxidation...

Ian Grant · Jan 4, 2019

I've been using Pyrocat HD for 14 or 15 years now and never had an issue with Part B going off, and Part A made up in de-ionised water is lasting 3-4 years.

Sounds like cross contamination.

Ian

Wayne · Jan 4, 2019

pentaxuser said:
I am not a user of Pyrocat HD as yet so this is just out of curiosity but you would appear to have found a solution to the problem that the OP has experienced. It sounds simpler as well but that makes me wonder why everyone doesn't use it.

Because its simple to make Part B and it doesn't go bad. Except for an unlucky few, apparently.

Rick A · Jan 4, 2019

Years ago, when I first started using P-cat, I read somewhere that someone had confused the caps for the two bottles and that was enough to destroy both solutions. That was enough motivation for me to label everything including the caps, even though I open the bottles one at a time to draw what's necessary and immediately replace the cap.

koraks · Jan 4, 2019

This sounds like carryover from A to B possibly due to the use of the same syringe or pipette for both concentrates. This will not harm concentrate B much, but it doesn't look pretty - ie it looks worse than it is. It will result in a minor addition of general stain, although this may be difficult to measure let alone see with the naked eye.

Always use dedicated pipettes/syringes for both concentrates. Mark them so you don't get them mixed up.

koraks · Jan 4, 2019

pentaxuser said:
Are there any drawbacks with your solution to the problem of adding dry carbonate and avoiding solution B?

Yes, it's more work to weigh out a small amut of carbonate instead of measuring a few ml concentrate using a pipette. Trust me, I work A LOT with developers mixed from scratch (dry components) and home-made stocks. The weighing thing gets old pretty quickly.

pentaxuser · Jan 4, 2019

Thanks for the reply,koraks

pentaxuser

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 4, 2019

I would really like to know what caused solution B to go brown. As I've said, I've never seen it happen... If you drop a few drops of A into 5 ml of B, it soon turns red. I've left excess working developer out over night (forgot to dump it), and it turned completely black.

john_s · Jan 4, 2019

There is nothing in Solution_B to go brown. It's just potassium carbonate. It doesn't oxidize or break down or do anything (except crystallize in cold weather which could be a nuisance).

Wayne · Jan 5, 2019

I put a drop of A in a few ounces of B last night, and this morning it was like black coffee. All it takes is a drop to contaminate it. Mine is actually hydroquinone not pyrocat and sodium not potassium carbonate, but same difference.

koraks · Jan 5, 2019

Yes, it only takes a little A for a solution to get really really dark.

Pyrocat HD Developer - Solution B Turned Brown

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