Precipitate in fix bottle

Hello,

After an unintentional extended absence from my darkroom, my paper fix
concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which is insoluble
in water. What can I use to dissolve this and clean my bottle? Is it
the same as the pale yellow ppt I see in splashes on the fix bottle and
fix tray? I'd like to dissolve those too!
Thanks in advance,
Anth.

Anthea wrote:
: Hello,

: After an unintentional extended absence from my darkroom, my paper fix
: concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which is insoluble
: in water. What can I use to dissolve this and clean my bottle? Is it
: the same as the pale yellow ppt I see in splashes on the fix bottle and
: fix tray? I'd like to dissolve those too!
: Thanks in advance,
: Anth.


I've had the same thing happen when I let a jug of Kodak's rapid fix sit to
long. Although I don't know what caused it I do know that the fix was no
good.

--




-------------------
Keep working millions on welfare depend on you

Anthea wrote: Hello,

... my paper fix
concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which ...
Thanks in advance, Anth.


The worst possible type of storage. Junk it. Clear clean glass
Boston Rounds with Polyseal or Polycone caps are the thing.
Never any doubt of the condition of the contents. Dan

Anthea wrote:
Hello,

After an unintentional extended absence from my darkroom, my paper fix
concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which is insoluble
in water. What can I use to dissolve this and clean my bottle? Is it
the same as the pale yellow ppt I see in splashes on the fix bottle and
fix tray? I'd like to dissolve those too!
Thanks in advance,
Anth.

I infer used rapid fix.

I found an old body of unmixed rapid fix. The stuff seems to have been
colloidal sulphur, but large so cream to pale yellow in color.

I suppose used fixer has some argentothiosulphate in it that may be grey,
depending on particle size.

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^^-^^ 21:55:01 up 24 days, 11:22, 3 users, load average: 4.26, 4.20, 4.07

"Anthea" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

After an unintentional extended absence from my darkroom,
my paper fix
concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which
is insoluble
in water. What can I use to dissolve this and clean my
bottle? Is it
the same as the pale yellow ppt I see in splashes on the
fix bottle and
fix tray? I'd like to dissolve those too!
Thanks in advance,
Anth.

Probably elemental sulfur and silver sulfide. Clean it
the best you can with hot water. Then try a strong solution
of household bleach. Let that soak for a few hours and rinse
out with hot water. Try this a couple of times. If there is
still a residue you will have to resort to a standard tray
and glassware cleaner. These used to be available
commercially but both ingredients are considered hazardous.
The mixed tray cleaner is not unusually hazardous but you
should keep your hands out of it and wear gloves and and
protective clothing while using it.

Kodak TC-1
Water (cold) 1.0 liter
Potassium Bichromate 90.0 grams
Sulfuric Acid, concentrated 96.0 ml

Add the acid slowly while stirring the solution rapidly.
Beware that Sulfuric acid generates a lot of heat when it
goes into solution. The vessel should be one that can resist
heat without melting or cracking.
To use pour a little in the container to be cleaned and
swirl it around until the deposits are dissolved. Then wash
out thoroughly with water. The cleaner can be re-used until
it stops working.

If the container is very dirty its probably not worth
cleaning.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Hello,

Anthea wrote:
After an unintentional extended absence from my darkroom, my paper fix
concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which is insoluble
in water. What can I use to dissolve this and clean my bottle? Is it
the same as the pale yellow ppt I see in splashes on the fix bottle and
fix tray? I'd like to dissolve those too!

To clean your fix tray you can use the Fixer system cleaner from Kodak,
but use it only for fixing stuff !

As described by Kodak:
KODAK
KODAK Fixer System cleaner can be used to remove the deposits which tend
to accumulate on metal film hangers and clips used in fixing baths, and
in the fixer systems of continuous-processing equipment.
To clean darkroom equipment, mix the working solution as directed on the
package. Immerse the equipment being cleaned and allow it to remain in
the solution for at least 30 minutes. Heavy deposits may require
overnight soaking. Flush the cleaned equipment thoroughly with warm water.
/KODAK

The package size is big: It allows to make 9,5 liter of working solution...

Stéphane.


--
Stephane Schmuck - Junkerstr. 5 - 53177 Bonn - Germany
http://www.sck-photo.de ( For E-Mail remove the _nospam to write me )

"Anthea" wrote in message
After an unintentional extended absence from my darkroom, my paper fix
concertina bottle is full of a dark grey precipitate which is insoluble
in water.

Farmer's reducer will get it out: Dash of p. ferricyanide and
a splash of fresh fixer; shake well.

If there is a yellow precipitate it can be removed with
lye / s. hydroxide - this takes a while and needs to be warm/hot
to work.


--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics, Photonics, Informatics.
Remove blanks to reply: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com
f-Stop enlarging timers: http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/

RE;Nicholas O. Lindan wrote:

Farmer's reducer will get it out:


He will never know if it's clean or not. He's got one
of those costly junk opaque squeese the air out bottles.
They should be against the law. I bought one of those and
it immediatly went into the junk box.
The standard for photo and other chemistry has, is,
and will be the glass Boston Round, clear or amber. Mass
produced and low cost.
He should be sure he has the Polyseal and/or Polycone
caps and move partial bottles to smaller. He will have his best
chance at long lasting chemistry. Dan

Many thanks for all of the replies - the bottle is in the bin! I'll
try bleach on my tray and failing that, live with the stains.
Regards,
Anth.

Anthea wrote:

Many thanks for all of the replies - the bottle is in the bin! Anth.


Up to a few years ago I was using clear plastic water bottles.
I think the plastic used is a good one for photo chemistry. Lots of
sizes and shapes. My favorites were the Schweppes Tonic.
Your solution volumes can be + or - some. With a little practice
you'll have only full bottles. Dan