Old Glycin- useable?

[keithostertag]

I bought 100g of Glycin from the Formulary about two years ago and never got around to using it. I emailed them and was told it is only generally good for 6 months, and that one can tell by the color- brownish means its done-for. Well, I don't want to open it just to inspect it since that would expose it to light and air and moisture, etc.

I hate to just throw this out if it is useful at all to someone.

Anyone who is familiar with using Glycin and wants this can have it for $5 shipping (USA- NO Paypal!) Otherwise, it goes into the trash...

Keith Ostertag

[artonpaper]

My experience is NO. Glycin has a very, very short shelf life. I've made the mistake of buying a large jar of it once. In no time it went from light tan, to dark, earth colored powder. I used it to mix up a batch of paper developer, but it flat out didn't work. At least that's been my experience. I now buy it in small quantities when I want to use it. Photographers Formulary sells it in small bottle of 10 grams, which I usually purchase at B&H. Store it in the dark.

[keithostertag]

OK, thanks for the confirmation (sigh...)

[L Gebhardt]

Storing in the freezer does extend its life some. So does making a large batch of Ansco 130. I've had the developer keep for over a year.

I would open the package and look before you toss it, or waste the money shipping it.

[Ken Nadvornick]

Hi Keith,

Perhaps you may find it useful to review my experience with long-term storage of glycin powder?

Ken

[Jed Freudenthal]

Glycin will desintegrate under oxygen. I use butane (campingas) to keep the oxygen from glycin. In this way glycin can be used for years.

Jed

[keithostertag]

Well, seems we have a range of opinions...

I just opened it.

Brown.

Tossed.

Thanks for your replies.

Keith Ostertag

[jim appleyard]

If I'm not too late... old glycin CAN make a warmtone print dev. I've taken VERY old glycin (looked like Hershey's instant milk powder) and made it into Ansco/Agfa 130. The prints came out with a brown tone. Good for certain shots; womens portraits, old buildings, anything you might want warm.

[sun of sand]

I have old glycin
under the kodak name of athenon
probably from the early 70's if not 60's

I used some about 2 years ago to make a glycin only film developer
It developed the film and the film was actually pretty sharp. Sharper than d23 and I think xtol also using a handheld microscope to judge
very warm toned brown, though. I never printed them. I think I recently threw those film dev. test negatives out

I tried using some recently as a glycin only print developer
NOTHING
don't know.
try a different jar one of these days

[artonpaper]

Boy my experience with old glycin in paper developer was a total fail. It just didn't work. Good thread this, learned a few things.