Uranium Nitrate Toning Recipe , Example and Experimenters mail

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

When I saw this picture , I quite shocked. It was same tones which I got it from thorium rich Leitz Summitar.

I quickly sent message to Rick and He sent me below message.

I cannot tell you the exact formulation of my uranium toner, as I made adjustments on the fly with it. It consists of a mixture of acid buffered UO2(NO3)2 (pH=2 to 3) with a weak organic acid - I used either acetic, tartaric, succinic or oxalic acid, likely a combination of the later two. This solution is combined with a ferricyanide bleach to remove the metallic silver.

It can be fixed after the toning, and the color becomes brighter and does not fade, or partially fixed to retain the blacks, or not toned at all to get earthy reddish browns. The color can also be attenuated by washing in a baking soda solution, but I found that by keeping the pH of the washing water between 6 and 6.5, the bright reds would be nicely stable after the prints dry.

Sorry I cannot be more exact but I did not keep notes but rather mixed the solutions based on experimentation - this print, and the others like it are the result of many hours in the lab, mixing, toning, washing and drying.

I obtained my uranium salt many years ago from JT Baker which no longer sells it. But uranyl nitrate is still used as an analytical reagent and googling it will lead you to distributors where you can buy it. I think it is several hundred dollars an ounce.

The prints tone within 5 to 10 minutes, and I wash for twice that long. I do not know if positive film will work, you will need to experiment.​

He writes he uses below formula with adjusting after experimenting.

Uranium Print Toner
Uranium is a truly startling and dramatic toner that reliably produces a wide range of rusty-orange tones on almost any paper. Print flat and slightly light. Beware of overtoning as this causes the black to deteriorate. As with iron, a weak sodium carbonate solution will remove color and image. Wash in acidified water.

Working Solution Chemical Amount Units
Water 1000 ml
Uranium Nitrate 8 g
Oxalic Acid 4 g
Potassium Ferricyanide 4 g


REFERENCE
Uranium Print Toner; Peter Hughes (Reichelt), Mastering Black-and-White Photography, p.49.​

HE NEVER DIPS HIS HAND TO THE SOLUTION , GLASS PROTECTION , HE USES RESPIRATOR , TWO LAYERS OF PROTECTIVE CLOTH , THICK VINYL GLOVES, NEVER TOUCHES THE PRINTS AND SECURE THEM IN SEALED GLASS CONTAINER​

Umut

Istanbul

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

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Here is the Rick's link.

He is an member of APUG but no time but He will look at here.

Umut

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Uranyl Nitrate, SPI-Chem™ Brand
The finest uranyl nitrate available anywhere made entirely from depleted uranium for maximum safety.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Uranyl Nitrate, Hexa-Hydrate
N2O8U•6H2O
CAS: #13520-83-7
MW: 502.1
APPEARANCE: Crystaline Solid
RTECS: YR3850000

Uranyl nitrate is usually used as an electron dense stain for transmission electron microscopy. However, it has also found application as 0.01% aqueous solution as a as a local catalyst in the polymerization of methacrylates. Reference: Hayat, M. A., Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy, 1970, Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY.

Uranyl nitrate is soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, and ether, but not in benzene, toluene and chloroform. The aqueous solution can hold up to 56% of anhydrous salt at 25° C. Uranyl nitrate solutions are more stable than those of uranyl acetate solutions, but it is less efficient as a stain than the acetate. In tissue, it stabilizes nucleic acids and membranes when used prior to embedding. It is frequently used after sections are cut to "post stain" or further increase the contrast of membranes, etc., in sections. Uranyl salts, particularly acetate, are also used as negative stains for viruses and small cellular organelles in suspension. Reference: Hayat, M. A., Positive Staining for Electron Microscopy, 1975. Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY.

Other electron dense uranyl based stains:
SPI Supplies offers a reliable supply of other hard-to-find electron dense stains, including uranyl formate and uranyl acetate. Let us know what other needs you might have for any uranium based compounds, we are set up to produce just about anything in the way of uranium compounds, always with depleted uranium for safety and virtually no exposure hazards.

Radioactivity statement:
This material is made from depleted uranium, meaning that it is uranium from which the radioactive isotopes have been essentially removed.



Restriction on shipments:
Uranium-containing compounds, as well as uranium metal are subject to special restrictions from both the United States and other governments both for export from the USA as well as for importation into other countries.

Shipping regulations:
UN 2910
Class 7

To our customers outside the U.S., including Canada and Mexico – Please note that due to the special classification of this product as a radioactive material in excepted quantity, an additional surcharge of $120.00 has been assessed by the airline industry and will be added to the final shipping charges.

SPI # Each In Stock
5g 02546-AA $75.00 No
25g 02546-AB $276.78 Yes

 

[holmburgers]

Wow, very interesting Umut. Thanks for sharing; I have been curious about uranium toning since it is mentioned a lot in the old texts.

Talk about expensive... !

 

[ath]

Talk about expensive... !

And REALLY dangerous!

 

[holmburgers]

What makes it so dangerous, since it's not radioactive? I assume it's highly toxic?

 

[kram]

Hi,
Safety info on Uranium Nitrate

http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/UR/uranium_nitrate.html

 

[holmburgers]

Here's an excellent write-up on Uranium prints and toning...

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[Matthew Rusbarsky]

Here's an excellent write-up on Uranium prints and toning...

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That is a very interesting read. My favorite bit:

"The Mercuro-Uranotype had a brief life in the later 19th century; another printing out process, it employed a sensitizer made from a 10:1 mixture of saturated uranium chloride and mercuric chloride solutions. It became obsolete by the end of the century, perhaps because its purveyors all poisoned themselves with the extremely toxic sensitizer formula."

 

[ath]

Here's the parallel tread on RFF where Chris101 goes into detail how he handles the stuff and why.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Its not rick , he is Chris 101 , I am sorry.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

These are %14 depleted uranium mixed Fiesta Ceramic Ware glazes

Umut

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Uranium oxide glazes.

Umut

 

[alexhill]

The prints are so beautiful! However, seeing chris 101 talk about uranium nitrate has cured my desire to tone prints with it.. Good thing its expensive being that dangerous.

 

[vpwphoto]

I am now interested... Although if Orange tones were attainable with table salts would we be so interested?

After more reading it does not sound that dangerous. Although where do you pour the old bath? I wouldn't want a $1,000,000 superfund clean-up fee pinned on me.

I live in the USA and love English, Swedish, and French cars... the machine shop I deal with said why not rebuild a Chevy Small block like a normal person... I said. If only I lived in Sweden, then I'd love American cars.

 

[alexhill]

If table salt could do the same thing, then I definitely would play with it. I've got a Mcgaver streak a mile wide! However, it wouldn't be as cool as saying it was made with uranium. I haven't handled the stuff myself, but I am willing to accept what Chris101 says about the respect it deserves.

Originally Posted by Chris101
Oh man! You should see me in the Tyvek moon-suit I wear when I work with heavy metal salts in a photo tray! The hazard associated with uranium, vanadium and other heavy metals is liver and kidney damage, not the extremely slight radioactivity the depleted uranium nitrate has. While the pure compound does click a geiger counter nicely, the prints do not register anything at all above the background radiation.

 

[vpwphoto]

This thread really go in my head. I dreamt I was manking yellow orange prints with this process and when I dipped my prints in the Uraniim Nitrate bath they smolder and burt into flames on the edges and then extinguished as they were submirged.

Anyone have an answer about the ramefications of throwing the used bath down the drains?
Otherwise I don't think the process seems all that hazardus seeing that modern Uranium Nitrate is made from depleted Uranium. I use a respirator or go outside to mix even D-76 or Dektol. I don't think the Uranium bath emitts fumes like a Mercuyr bath would.

 

[Athiril]

Uranyl Nitrate can be had from Vanbar for those of us in Australia.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

"It is impossible to make a good photograph with uranium salt toning" -- Brooks Jensen

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[vpwphoto]

And my neighbor told me my sailboat was a bad idea too...

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Vpwphoto ,

I think you must send it to a hazard chemicals site and pay the bill. When you talk with uranium seller , ask them the question , sure they know the answer.

Umut

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

And last vase sells for 50 dollars , so it might be difficult to find a buyer to your prints. But Chris101 photo is an best nude photo I have ever seen , its hot with burning desire. As I told before a thorium radioactive Leitz Summitar 5 cms gave me the same colors and more details , they all tell this at cg subsurface details.
The trick is to use lots of ge clear old bulb lights. I think you can buy this lens and a IIIF for 400 or less if you are lucky and create more art with the price of few uranium prints

Umut