shelf life and failure modes of expired developer

[Murray@uptowngallery]

I was given a bunch of expired Microdol-X. Some is in powder, and some is in unopened brown Kodak bottles.

I imagine the bottled stuff has water and would be the first to go.

All of it is long past recommended expiration, but what happens? Oxidation in the liquid pre-mix...I guess that could be worse than just slower, maybe seriously impaired, completely impaired.

and the dry powder packages?

And how odoriferous is Microdol-X compared to other products?

Lastly, if they have no usefulness at all (even for a low activity developer for graphic arts film, or replenished with something?), I would think that disposing of it all at once would be worse (in some way of thinking) than a little at a time at working strength.

Thanks

[gainer]

It's worth a snip test of the liquid first, and if that seems to work, a little more rigorous test. Those Kodak glass bottles were pretty well sealed, maybe with inert gas filler. If it works, you can brag about it. Same for the dry powder package. If it has been sealed, it could still be good.

How many carloads did you get that you should be worried? Maybe you could dig a hole the size of a mop bucket in some remote place where there is grass, pour in one bottle or package, fill the hole and observe from time to time. If the grass doesn't like it, it should let you know. If it likes it, you can sell what you don't want as fertilizer. Who knows? Whatever grows there might develop film.

I say seriously that it might be a good plan to ask a public works person who knows about waste disposal what tolerance the public system has for such things. You can probably find what such a person needs to know from the MSDS or the list of ingredients on the bottle or package.

[John Irvine]

The devloping agents I use to mix up developers have to be over 30 years old still work fine. The inorganics are almost as old. I can't see anything going wrong with the dry packages as long as they are intact and there is no sign of rupture or corrosion.

Sealed liquids are most likely OK, but a test as mentioned above is definetely called for.

[Ian Grant]

Microdol-X is amongst the packs of old powder devs I acquired back in about 1999/200, they were old then.

Some are useless, particularly the only one I really had any interest in using, Ilford Hyfin. That was in polythene packaging and had oxidised, and had no life left at all. The Microdol-X might bee OK its packaged in metallised bags, but I won't know unless I try opening it.

Pre-packed chemistry goes off, but you could be lucky, liquid developers also collapse gain formulae differ and some have a remarkably long shelf life. You need to do a quick test with film leader/film.

Ian

[Murray@uptowngallery]

One carload. Well, all combined, not just Microdol-X, misc. stuff neither the giver nor receiver had the heart to simply discard...whatever would fit in the space remaining around the Elwood 8x10 enlarger. I think I can brag that I was able to conceal an 8x10 enlarger in the garage (to minimize visual trauma to family members).

Thanks.

I will try some.