Storing Ammonium Thiosulfate

athbr · Jun 19, 2019

Might have found a source for Ammonium Thiosulfate.

I hear it doesn't store super well in solid form. I'm worried because I won't have any immediate use for it.

Should I dissolve it all into a 60% Solution? Could I store it in glycol?

I want it to last as long as possible. What kind of shelf life can I expect from this stuff?

Photo Engineer · Jun 19, 2019

It keeps very poorly as a solid. As a 60% solution it can keep for several years in a sealed full bottle. Do not store it in glycol. Use only DW to dissolve it.

PE

pentaxuser · Jun 19, 2019

Photo Engineer said:
It keeps very poorly as a solid. As a 60% solution it can keep for several years in a sealed full bottle. Do not store it in glycol. Use only DW to dissolve it.

PE

What is DW? Thanks

pentaxuser

Steve Goldstein · Jun 19, 2019

Distilled water, most likely.

Photo Engineer · Jun 19, 2019

I thought DW was used so often here, I just used it automatically. Sorry.

PE

jim appleyard · Jun 19, 2019

athbr said:
Might have found a source for Ammonium Thiosulfate.

Can you tell us where? I've been buying from Artcraft, but his source is questionable these days.

Photo Engineer · Jun 19, 2019

The Formulary sells photo grade Ammonium Hypo as a 60% solution.

I used it to formulate (pun) TF5.

PE

athbr · Jun 20, 2019

Suvatlar has some too.

Rudeofus · Jun 21, 2019

Check for shipping costs, typically we are charged through nose and ear to ship liquids across countries. If you have a local source of Ammonium Thiosulfate, then most likely that's the cheapest option.

BTW many sources which offer "Ammonium Thiosulfate" will ship 60% aqueous solution, this appears to be the most commonly available form of Ammonium Thiosulfate. I had to jump through hoops and paid dearly to get the powder once.

Anon Ymous · Jun 21, 2019

You may find ammonium thiosulfate as a fertiliser and it will be the cheapest source. It will come as a 58-60% aqueous solution. I have some I bought a couple of years ago and it's still just fine.

Peter Schrager · Jun 21, 2019

jim appleyard said:
Can you tell us where? I've been buying from Artcraft, but his source is questionable these days.

I just bought some from him and it is just fine

jim appleyard · Jun 21, 2019

Peter Schrager said:
I just bought some from him and it is just fine

The liquid, 60% stuff? I checked with Mike about 2 weeks ago and he could get it, but it was the yellow fertilizer stuff and he was waiting for it to stop raining so farmers could use the stuff and then he could get the clear variety.

Peter Schrager · Jun 22, 2019

jim appleyard said:
The liquid, 60% stuff? I checked with Mike about 2 weeks ago and he could get it, but it was the yellow fertilizer stuff and he was waiting for it to stop raining so farmers could use the stuff and then he could get the clear variety.

Not... powder crystals I made my own 2% solution for gold toning

Peter Schrager · Jun 22, 2019

Oops sorry about my posts..I bought ammonium rhiocyanate!! Brain fart

Photo Engineer · Jun 22, 2019

Rhiocyanate Peter????

PE

Rudeofus · Jun 22, 2019

Peret ptobably meanr Rhiocyanare!

Richard Searle · Jun 23, 2019

Rudeofus said:
Check for shipping costs, typically we are charged through nose and ear to ship liquids across countries. If you have a local source of Ammonium Thiosulfate, then most likely that's the cheapest option.

BTW many sources which offer "Ammonium Thiosulfate" will ship 60% aqueous solution, this appears to be the most commonly available form of Ammonium Thiosulfate. I had to jump through hoops and paid dearly to get the powder once.

Process Supplies in the UK sells it in powder form.
https://www.processuk.net/Ammonium_Thiosulphate__500-grms/p740597_3427198.aspx

Stats · Jun 23, 2019

Along a similar line, I have some TF4 in unopened gallon containers which appear to have gone bad. What would be a proper way to discard it? Anon Ymous stated that it can be used as fertilizer, so I wonder if i could use it in my garden. Since I have a septic system, I don't want to discard the concentrate into it.

Rudeofus · Jun 23, 2019

TF-4 is quite alkaline, therefore I would not dump it in my garden. Can you explain how your batch of TF-4 went bad? Did it sulfur out, or did you just detect some white crystals floating in it?

Photo Engineer · Jun 23, 2019

TF4 has Borate in it. This is not good for some plants. I would not use it due to that and the potential pH problem.

TF5 has no Borates.

PE

Stats · Jun 23, 2019

My TF4 has developed a dark brown discoloration and the solids won't go into suspension. At this point I am just looking for a way to dispose of it safely without jeopardizing my septic system.

jim appleyard · Jun 23, 2019

Stats said:
Along a similar line, I have some TF4 in unopened gallon containers which appear to have gone bad. What would be a proper way to discard it? Anon Ymous stated that it can be used as fertilizer, so I wonder if i could use it in my garden. Since I have a septic system, I don't want to discard the concentrate into it.

Does your local town/county have a toxic waste site where you can dump it? Many areas have such a thing with their recycling program. Some places only do it once/twice a year, but if this stuff is that old, what's waiting a few months?

thefizz · Jun 24, 2019

So how long should Ammonium Thiosulfate last in solid form and what signs should one look out for to know it has gone off?

Photo Engineer · Jun 24, 2019

The solid begins to look like slush. It takes on a yellow color sometimes and has a rotten egg odor. This describes three possible "stages" of going bad.

That is why it is usually sold as a solution.

PE

Storing Ammonium Thiosulfate

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