Cleaning agents

Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Knut O.
--------------
Norway, home of giants

Rainman wrote:

Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Most likely the residue you have there is some combination of colloidal
sulfur, silver, and heaven only knows what. If it were worth salvaging
such bottles, as opposed to simply replacing them, I'd be inclined to
try a first wash with carbon disulfide (very, very flammable and
toxic!), followed by strong nitric acid or a nitric-hydrochloric mixture
(strong acids are also very hazardous).

Unless the bottles are valuable antiques, it's probably not worth the
effort. If they *are* valuable antiques, you probably shouldn't attempt
to clean them, because doing so is likely to reduce their value.

--
I may be a scwewy wabbit, but I'm not going to Alcatwaz!
-- E. J. Fudd, 1954

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer
Lathe Building Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/HomebuiltLathe.htm
Speedway 7x12 Lathe Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/my7x12.htm

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.

Rainman wrote:

Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Most likely the residue you have there is some combination of colloidal
sulfur, silver, and heaven only knows what. If it were worth salvaging
such bottles, as opposed to simply replacing them, I'd be inclined to
try a first wash with carbon disulfide (very, very flammable and
toxic!), followed by strong nitric acid or a nitric-hydrochloric mixture
(strong acids are also very hazardous).

Unless the bottles are valuable antiques, it's probably not worth the
effort. If they *are* valuable antiques, you probably shouldn't attempt
to clean them, because doing so is likely to reduce their value.

--
I may be a scwewy wabbit, but I'm not going to Alcatwaz!
-- E. J. Fudd, 1954

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer
Lathe Building Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/HomebuiltLathe.htm
Speedway 7x12 Lathe Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/my7x12.htm

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.

"Rainman" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used
for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems
getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Knut O.
--------------
Norway, home of giants


There are a couple of ways to go at this depending on
what chemicals are available or what you want to deal with.
The classic cleaner is Sulfuric acid and Potassium
dichomate:

Cold water to make 1.0 liter

Add Sulfuric Acid, concentrated 90.0 ml
Add the acid slowly with constant stiring.
Add Potassium Dichromate 90.0 grams
It may be helpful to dissolve the dichromate separately in a
volume of water.

This cleaner can be re-used many times.

Both Sulfuric acid and dichromate can cause sever burns so
the cleaner should be mixed with caution. Wear gloves, a
face mask and protective clothing.

Another cleaner uses Potassium Permanganate, this is
specifically for silver stains or residue.

Solution A
Water 1.0 liter
Potassium Permanganate 5.0 grams
Sulfuric acid, concentrated 10.0 ml

Solution B

Water 1.0 liter
Sodium bisulfite 10.0 grams

Pour Solution A into the tray or bottle and allow it to
remain for a few minutes. Then rinse with water. Then pour
Solution B into the container and leave until the stain is
removed. Then rinse well with water.

Full strength acid rapid fixer is a mild silver solvent.
Add about 15 grams per liter of Citric acid to it. It may
take some time to remove the silver but is not hazardous.
A stiff bottle brush is helpful. Also it is helpful to
scrub the bottle by putting some shot into it and shaking or
swirling them around. This last is useful for containers
that won't admit a brush.
Another possibility is to convert the silver to silver
halide and remove it with strong hypo. This is basically
Farmer's Reducer but mixed more strongly. This also is not
hazardous.

"Rainman" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used
for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems
getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Knut O.
--------------
Norway, home of giants


There are a couple of ways to go at this depending on
what chemicals are available or what you want to deal with.
The classic cleaner is Sulfuric acid and Potassium
dichomate:

Cold water to make 1.0 liter

Add Sulfuric Acid, concentrated 90.0 ml
Add the acid slowly with constant stiring.
Add Potassium Dichromate 90.0 grams
It may be helpful to dissolve the dichromate separately in a
volume of water.

This cleaner can be re-used many times.

Both Sulfuric acid and dichromate can cause sever burns so
the cleaner should be mixed with caution. Wear gloves, a
face mask and protective clothing.

Another cleaner uses Potassium Permanganate, this is
specifically for silver stains or residue.

Solution A
Water 1.0 liter
Potassium Permanganate 5.0 grams
Sulfuric acid, concentrated 10.0 ml

Solution B

Water 1.0 liter
Sodium bisulfite 10.0 grams

Pour Solution A into the tray or bottle and allow it to
remain for a few minutes. Then rinse with water. Then pour
Solution B into the container and leave until the stain is
removed. Then rinse well with water.

Full strength acid rapid fixer is a mild silver solvent.
Add about 15 grams per liter of Citric acid to it. It may
take some time to remove the silver but is not hazardous.
A stiff bottle brush is helpful. Also it is helpful to
scrub the bottle by putting some shot into it and shaking or
swirling them around. This last is useful for containers
that won't admit a brush.
Another possibility is to convert the silver to silver
halide and remove it with strong hypo. This is basically
Farmer's Reducer but mixed more strongly. This also is not
hazardous.

Rapid fixer will often clean it off. Give it a long time to work (days).

"Rainman" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Knut O.
--------------
Norway, home of giants

Put some plain sand and fill the bottles1/3 with hot water. Shake
vigorously. Repeat if needed.

Frank Rome, NY

Does anyone have a good way of cleaning out bottles used for photgraphic
chemistry by way of chemicals?
I am using some old glass bottles, but are having problems getting rid of
all the residues of silver stuck to the bottom and sides.

Knut O.
--------------
Norway, home of giants

Much better to use chromic acid (Kodak Tray Cleaner) that has been standard
in chem labs for years. It contains a solution of pot. dichromate in
sulfuric acid. A few hours or overnight will dissolve almost anything that
sticks to glass. You keep on using the same liter of cleaning solution for
a very long time...until it no longer works.