sodium sulfite in developers

narigas2006 · Jul 26, 2015

Folks,

I know it is probably the cheapest chemical in the chem list but I ran out of sodium sulfite and I would like to do some prints. Is there any good formula (medium contrast, cold or warm) that can be done w/o sodium sulfite? I have lots of hidroquinone that will probably spoil if i don't use... Many many thanks!!!

richardson

Gerald C Koch · Jul 26, 2015

No there is really no substitute for sulfite in some form in developers.

I have some hydroquinone that is 50 years old. The solid does not spoil.

Wayne · Jul 26, 2015

I bought a 50lb bag of sodium sulfite so I doubt I'll ever run out this decade or next. Try it.

Photo Engineer · Jul 26, 2015

Sulfite converts to Sulfate in the open air or a permeable bag.

You can mix some paper developers without Sulfite and have them work reasonably well, but for a very short time.

PE

Ian Grant · Jul 26, 2015

You can use Metabisulphite and Hydroxide but you shouldn't have much excess Hydroxide, this method is used to get the concentrated sulphite solution in Rodinal.

Ian

Athiril · Jul 27, 2015

Ascrobate salts from ascorbic acid work as a preservative and developer iirc. Citric Acid is an anti-oxidant as well, just not as strong iirc, it's acidic so will drop pH so I'd neutralise it with some type of base.

Rudeofus · Jul 27, 2015

Since photographic papers have builtin contrast, you can use pretty much any developer formula and will get comparable results. Since developers based on Hydroquinone, Metol, p-Aminophenol, p-Phenylenediamin and Glycin need Sulfite to scavenge oxidized developer, you are essentially limited to Phenidone+Ascorbate formulas. Metol+Ascorbate could work as long as there is enough Ascorbate to restore oxidized Metol.

Therefore you could start with the following formula, assuming you have the chemicals:

0.1 g/l Phenidone or 1 g/l Metol
5 - 10 g/l Ascobic Acid
10-30 g/l Sodium Carbonate or Triethanolamine or Sodium Metaborate

If you have Salicylic Acid, you could add a few g/l to your developer to make it last longer. If the developer fogs your paper, add either Sodium Bicarbonate or Acetic Acid to bring down its pH, or add 0.5 - 2 g/l Potassium Bromide to reduce fog while maintaining its speed.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 27, 2015

The problem with the ascorbate developers without sulfite mentioned is that they are essentially experimental. The OP wanted something he could use immediately to produce what I assume are to be good prints. This removed them from consideration for me.

mrred · Jul 27, 2015

I don't see how he could be in anything but an experimental situation.

dpurdy · Jul 27, 2015

Photo Engineer said:
Sulfite converts to Sulfate in the open air or a permeable bag.

You can mix some paper developers without Sulfite and have them work reasonably well, but for a very short time.

PE

PE, what does the conversion to Sulfate mean to photographic uses? I have bought Sulfite in large quantities for some years, generally 20 Kilos. My usage has slowed down so much now that the bag I have is at least 2 years old. It just sits in a heavy paper bag on my basement floor and not tightly closed up. I still have been using it in paper developer as well as some film developer.

Is it no longer working properly? and how will I see that?

Thanks Dennis

Photo Engineer · Jul 27, 2015

Sulfite becoming Sulfate no longer offers solvent action (D-76 for example) and no longer offers oxidation protection (almost all developers). Thus, images in D-76 are degraded and all developers go bad faster.

This is why I am not an enthusiast for the average person mixing their own solutions. Too many gotchas like this. There are enough buying ready made chemistry.

PE

Gerald C Koch · Jul 27, 2015

Sodium sulfite will oxidize to the sulaite upon exposure to air. This reaction proceeds faster in the presence of moisture. It is therefore unwise to buy large amounts of sodium sulfite. Best to transfer any to glass jars. I find canning jars very useful for this purpose. They are cheap, air-tight and readily available.

Wayne · Jul 27, 2015

I keep mine in plastic bags inside a plastic bucket with lid. I haven't done any controlled tests but my Ansco 130 still lasts for years, if that's any indication.

Photo Engineer said:
Sulfite becoming Sulfate no longer offers solvent action (D-76 for example) and no longer offers oxidation protection (almost all developers). Thus, images in D-76 are degraded and all developers go bad faster.

This is why I am not an enthusiast for the average person mixing their own solutions. Too many gotchas like this. There are enough buying ready made chemistry.

PE

sodium sulfite in developers

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