XTol Storage

Figuring out the best way to store 5L of fresh XTOL developer. Reading others solutions, I have to ask if it needs to be kept in opaque bottles? I have milk-white clear Nalgenes that could work. I'm not sure about exposure to light vs. exposure to air/oxidation.

Your comments please.

Used winebags is the answer. My Xtol is now 20 months old and still working fine

pentaxuser

If you are concerned about exposure to light, put the bottles in a cupboard or bag.

That being said, I don't think it actually matters as long as we are talking about regular room light.

I bought 48 four Oz brown amber bottles from US PLASTICS. That gives me over 40 bottles of Stock. I develop film in a Jobo that requires 8 Oz per reel (6 4x5 sheets). That's 1 bottle of Stock and 4 Oz. water. I feel comfortable the Stock solution in air tight brown amber bottles, stored in a cabinet will last a very long time and it is pre-measured for use.

Exposure to light isn't a problem air/oxygen is what it needs to be protected from.
I use a replenishment scheme with Xtol, I use glass bottles for my replenishment stock and plastic for the working solution.

I am panning to get some of these "finish storage bags" to try out sometime.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=72867&cat=51&ap=1

I had such poor luck with Xtol storage I gave up on it.Oxidation is a major problem. Store it in glass, not plastic.

The two main ingredients Sodium ascorbate and Dimezone-S are quite resistant to hydrolysis (reaction with water) at the Xtol pH ~ 8.2 but the ascorbate is susceptible to degradation by oxidation by oxygen from the air.Keeing out oxygen by storing the Xtol in sealed glass bottles seems to give a life of at least 2 years.I am not aware that Xtol is degraded by light but have always kept my stock solution in a dark cupboard.

I store mine in 5 glass bottles, fill to the top. I use it 1-1 so I've always got a half bottle sitting there, never once had a problem, even sitting for a couple months or so. It's my primary developer now.

Aluminised mylar bags in boxes, aka wine/water-boxes. Keeps for well over a year, easily.

After making up 5 liters in a 5 liter glass wine bottle, I stored it in 5 1-liter PET plastic bottles that were plain seltzer water bottles. Squeeze them to eliminate air and store them in the dark. PET is an excellent air/oxygen barrier. XTOL will last 6 months this way, which Kodak's XTOL data sheet indicates for a full, tightly-stoppered bottle.

I use stock solution and develop 6 rolls per liter. I've found if I've developed 3-4 rolls and don't develop the remaining 2 rolls within a few weeks, the XTOL goes bad, getting slightly cloudy and appearing to etch or attack the bottle.

I've been mixing and storing 5L Xtol and 1 gallon Dektol in these http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/65732-REG/Arkay_603542_PRT_2FLC_Complete_Storage_Tank.html for several years now without complaint. Both chemistries keep well for several months and I have used the same batch of Xtol 7 months after mixing without a problem.

Thomas

My favourite storage solution is the wine bag mentioned by others, it keeps air/oxygen and light out and is extremely convenient to use. Ive been using Xtol like that for years and it keeps for 6-7 months easily at which point it is usually all used up in my case. If you rather want to go with bottles the material is more important than the question if they are amber or clear is of minor relevance. I would prefer glass bottles, the next best thing would be PET bottles/containers. These are preferable to HD-PE and PE it seems. The worst solution are accordion bottles. If using bottles make sure they are/can be tightly capped and keep any surplus air out with help of protective gas or glass marbles.

Other things to keep in mind:
- if possible use de-ionized water for the stock solution (it seems Xtol doesn't like iron/copper and tap water usually has some risk of being contanimanted with one or both because of the plumbing)

- when dissolving the powder, take your time, if you use a closed container do not shake it to speed up things, stir it. Shaking will introduce a lot of oxygen into the solution that will kill Xtol prematurely.

It's been covered many times before. I'm too lazy to re-type. See this post:

I use 125ml glass, amber bottles. Filled to the very brim. No apparent oxidation that I could ever tell (up to a year).

Beyond keeping qualities, the other benefit is that the individual bottles are essentially one-shot. Very easy to manage.

I mix it double strength which halves the number of bottles and probably aids longer storage.

250mL glass laboratory bottles with screw caps (Schott). I put in the exact amount then top up with water, something like an extra 50mL I suppose. I dilute to 500mL for use.

I use 250ml Amber Glass Large Mouth Bottles to be able to mix up Xtol, 20 bottles, and store in these smaller bottles with no air so it would last longer. Then I use one shot or 1:1. I have lots of extra brand new bottles so I should run an ad again like I use to.

AG photographic sell 1L screw cap plastic jerry cans...I got 5 of them, for about GBP 1 each. I mix the XTOL using battery water (which itself comes in a 5L jerry can, so you could potentially store it in there if making more than 5l), in a big black bucket so I can see the stubborn crystals which take longer to dissolve. Once all clear, I divide it up in the jerry cans, using a funnel, filling the cans right to the brim. You could use marbles to get all the air out. I think my son would complain. I've never had XTOL expire on me, but I probably shoot 50 rolls of film a year. I use the XTOL 1:1, so it makes about 30 rolls of 35mm. Given its only about GBP 5 a bag, you may as well chuck it if you are concerned its expired and order another lot.

Nalgene is s trade name and does not define the type of plastic used. PET plastic bottles are second only to glass for developer storage. This plastic is used for water and soft drink bottles. Check the recycle code to identify bottles. The number in the triangle (the SPI code) should be 1.