XTOL 11 YEAR OLD STOCK SOLUTION WORKED

mshchem · Apr 17, 2017

OK, so I have a bottle of XTOL stock solution. I mixed this with RO water on April 15, 2006. It got mixed into some other stuff when we moved. I found it a couple years ago. I thought boy that stuff is brown. So then I think I should wait until it's 10 years old and try it. Well it made it to 11 years and 2 days.
I had a crappy day at work. So I had to prove the impossible . Note brown XTOL, with date. 2nd photo, miraculous Jobo Duolab processor at work processing film. Final photo test snaps on TMY2, hanging to dry. So the moral of the story, even in PET soda bottle, if you squeeze all the air out of the bottle XTOL lasts, well like 11 years. Your Mileage May Vary. I'm SO HAPPY

Mike from Iowa City

Sirius Glass · Apr 17, 2017

Why am I not surprised?

Andrew O'Neill · Apr 17, 2017

Now that's impressive!

Jim Noel · Apr 17, 2017

I am amazed since mine went dead in two weeks.

Arklatexian · Apr 17, 2017

mshchem said:
OK, so I have a bottle of XTOL stock solution. I mixed this with RO water on April 15, 2006. It got mixed into some other stuff when we moved. I found it a couple years ago. I thought boy that stuff is brown. So then I think I should wait until it's 10 years old and try it. Well it made it to 11 years and 2 days.
I had a crappy day at work. So I had to prove the impossible . Note brown XTOL, with date. 2nd photo, miraculous Jobo Duolab processor at work processing film. Final photo test snaps on TMY2, hanging to dry. So the moral of the story, even in PET soda bottle, if you squeeze all the air out of the bottle XTOL lasts, well like 11 years. Your Mileage May Vary. I'm SO HAPPY Mike from Iowa City
View attachment 177267 View attachment 177268 View attachment 177269

Why your XTOL was not "brown", just a bright yellow. I have seen "fresh mixed" developers that yellow. Congratulations on having the, should I say "guts" to develop a roll of film in eleven year old developer and thank you for letting us see the results. What is RO water? When I mix mine, it will be in distilled water then poured into a bottle, plastic. with no room for air and at that time I will know that I or someone will have usable developer for maybe eleven years thanks to you........Regards!

mshchem · Apr 17, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Why am I not surprised?

I was shocked, the negatives look normal. I thought it would be a clear piece of acetate. I've used XTOL that was well over a year old. But this was fascinating, I am a fanatic about topping off bottles. I guess it works
Mike

mshchem · Apr 17, 2017

oldtimermetoo said:
Why your XTOL was not "brown", just a bright yellow. I have seen "fresh mixed" developers that yellow. Congratulations on having the, should I say "guts" to develop a roll of film in eleven year old developer and thank you for letting us see the results. What is RO water? When I mix mine, it will be in distilled water then poured into a bottle, plastic. with no room for air and at that time I will know that I or someone will have usable developer for maybe eleven years thanks to you........Regards!

Reverse Osmosis water, pretty close but not quite as pure as distilled. I split up my 5 liter batches into a bunch of smaller bottles. I never save a partial bottle. I fill up the next smaller bottle and toss any left over.
Mike

Alan Johnson · Apr 17, 2017

I think the record was previously 7.5 years:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

mshchem · Apr 18, 2017

Alan Johnson said:
I think the record was previously 7.5 years:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

That's what mine looked like I added about 50% to the development time but the negatives look normal. I will try to get a print later this week. I would like to see someone make a print with an 11 year old ink jet cartridge.

Peter Schrager · Apr 18, 2017

looks like whiskey

Sal Santamaura · Apr 18, 2017

Jim Noel said:
I am amazed since mine went dead in two weeks.

Not amazing at all. Did you mix your XTOL with distilled water and store it in a full, non-oxygen-permeable container/cap?

pentaxuser · Apr 18, 2017

I store my Xtol in winebags and have gotten over 18 months use out of it but towards the end I was testing it each time with the leader to avoid nasty surprises. Eventually it failed and I noticed the only change was that it had slightly yellowed compared to a clear colour like water. I had assumed that once it went to a straw colour it was exhausted. Well it was in my case but clearly it works when even darker.

Pretty amazing

pentaxuser

PittP · Apr 19, 2017

Sal Santamaura said:
mix your XTOL with distilled water

To prepare Xtol stock I'm using "battery water" or "water for steam ironing" etc., i.e. deionised water from car supplies or supermarket. This is often (nearly always?) contaminated with some germs; such de-ionised water is not considered safe for drinking.
If this Xtol stock is not seriously sterilised (e.g. sterilised bottles, the water boiled, or UV-sterilisation of solution), some kinds of slime will eventually start growing - sometimes becoming visible after only two weeks, affecting developer activity and starting a process of "slow Xtol death".
But then, who deliberately commits his film to this slimy soup?
For this reason, though, I don't keep Xtol in dark bottles anymore, I need to see that the stuff is clear and clean!
I've tried to run a small test on the topic: Xtol remained perfectly ok for about 4.5 years, with no loss of activity, when kept under clean and air-tight conditions (PET bottles, UV-sterilisation repeated about 2x/year). The test ended when the Xtol was finally used.

removed account4 · Apr 19, 2017

Jim Noel said:
I am amazed since mine went dead in two weeks.

LOL
mine was never alive

mshchem · Apr 19, 2017

PittP said:
To prepare Xtol stock I'm using "battery water" or "water for steam ironing" etc., i.e. deionised water from car supplies or supermarket. This is often (nearly always?) contaminated with some germs; such de-ionised water is not considered safe for drinking.
If this Xtol stock is not seriously sterilised (e.g. sterilised bottles, the water boiled, or UV-sterilisation of solution), some kinds of slime will eventually start growing - sometimes becoming visible after only two weeks, affecting developer activity and starting a process of "slow Xtol death".
But then, who deliberately commits his film to this slimy soup?
For this reason, though, I don't keep Xtol in dark bottles anymore, I need to see that the stuff is clear and clean!
I've tried to run a small test on the topic: Xtol remained perfectly ok for about 4.5 years, with no loss of activity, when kept under clean and air-tight conditions (PET bottles, UV-sterilisation repeated about 2x/year). The test ended when the Xtol was finally used.

Mine is stored in a cool cellar . Temperature rarely exceeds 20 C. This may help to keep growth in check . UV sterilization is a very clever solution ☺
Best Mike

Sal Santamaura · Apr 19, 2017

PittP said:
...If this Xtol stock is not seriously sterilised (e.g. sterilised bottles, the water boiled, or UV-sterilisation of solution), some kinds of slime will eventually start growing - sometimes becoming visible after only two weeks, affecting developer activity and starting a process of "slow Xtol death"...

I mix XTOL stock solution using steam-distilled water and store it in 20 250ml amber glass bottles with Teflon-lined caps. As soon as the day after mixing, a small amount of white, filamentary precipitate forms at the bottom of each bottle. I pass the stock solution through a standard white coffee filter before using it to develop film. That filtered XTOL has provided consistent sensitometric results up to one year after mixing, stored at room temperatures ranging from 68 through approximately 80 degrees F. I've not had reason to test longer storage times, since I use it up within twelve months and need to mix another five liters.

I wash out the storage bottles and caps twice with tap water, then once more with distilled water, before letting them completely air dry after each use.

trendland · Apr 19, 2017

That seems to be the best news of the week.
But don't forget that a original box Xtol
may have longer live as we all together!

It will be become an important fact if the last box Xtol you can buy is yours and after then KODAk originally discontinued
Xtol.

But I don't belife KODAk have thoughts to do this in the next years.

But remarkable - congratiolations to you - well done at all.

Have read the older post too.

with regards

Sirius Glass · Apr 20, 2017

I have found that I have gotten stock XTOL to last about a year and a half when used and sealed tightly.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 21, 2017

The great killer of Xtol is not aerial oxidation but the Fenton reaction. So squeezing the air out of the bottle is not the cause for the developer's longevity. The use of deionized water probably is.

mshchem · Apr 21, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
The great killer of Xtol is not aerial oxidation but the Fenton reaction. So squeezing the air out of the bottle is not the cause for the developer's longevity. The use of deionized water probably is.

Ok, who's Fenton and what's his reaction. I got C's in Physical Chemistry, and they graded on a generous curve. Keep it simple
Mike

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2017

Fenton is a street in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Truzi · Apr 21, 2017

mshchem said:
Ok, who's Fenton and what's his reaction.

Here's a little background:
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Harcourt_Fenton_Mudd

mshchem · Apr 21, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
View attachment 177560 Fenton is a street in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Now I'm craving She crab bisque. Crab boils.

Sirius Glass · Apr 21, 2017

mshchem said:
Now I'm craving She crab bisque. Crab boils.

She gave you crabs?

Alan Johnson · Apr 22, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
The great killer of Xtol is not aerial oxidation but the Fenton reaction. So squeezing the air out of the bottle is not the cause for the developer's longevity. The use of deionized water probably is.

I cannot understand the quoted statement.
http://flipper.diff.org/apprulespathways/pathways/6861
The Fenton reaction is a catalysed oxidation. It needs oxygen to run.

XTOL 11 YEAR OLD STOCK SOLUTION WORKED

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