Crystalized Rodinal

[Tijmendal]

My Rodinal has gotten chunky. When I turned it upside down there was just some crystalized stuff stuck on the bottom. When I shook it, it fragmented. I don't trust it anymore, so I bought a new bottle, but I was wondering what could have caused it. Any leads?

 

[Timmyjoe]

I guess it's caused by evaporation or something. Been using Rodinal for over twenty years, have had that happen numerous times with different bottles. I just shake the bottle up to see if they dissolve, and if it gets too bad I will pour from one bottle to another through a strainer & coffee filter.

 

[Tijmendal]

I guess it's caused by evaporation or something. Been using Rodinal for over twenty years, have had that happen numerous times with different bottles. I just shake the bottle up to see if they dissolve, and if it gets too bad I will pour from one bottle to another through a strainer & coffee filter.

Thanks. But wouldn't it make the solution less strong?

 

[Keith]

Had the same thing happen to my last bottle but just kept using it ... it was fine.

 

[Tijmendal]

Had the same thing happen to my last bottle but just kept using it ... it was fine.

I'm a little afraid that the crystals will end up touching the negative and leaving some kind of mark (like gross overdeveloping or something).

 

[Keith]

I'm a little afraid that the crystals will end up touching the negative and leaving some kind of mark (like gross overdeveloping or something).

I would just let the stuff settle after giving it a shake then draw off what I needed with a syringe, making sure not to draw from the bottom.

 

[Joao]

This topic was discussed some time ago in another thread and I learned that the crystals come from recrystallisation of the p-aminophenol. It was also said that the recrystaliation does not exhaust enough p-aminophenol to influence the activity of the developer.

I regulary use paRodinal, and the crystals are also there. I never saw a problem with it, I just ignore them until the concentrate level is very close to the bottom of the bottle.

Regards

Joao

 

[Pherdinand]

Keep using the old one for less critical work. It's cheap; if you are worried just dump it.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Are we talking about the original Rodinal?

I have been using Fomadol R09 and heard that it is more sensitive and does expire. I kept it outside in hot summer and I am worried if it is done now. It has been 2.5 years since I bought it.

 

[tho60]

My Rodinal has gotten chunky. When I turned it upside down there was just some crystalized stuff stuck on the bottom. When I shook it, it fragmented. I don't trust it anymore, so I bought a new bottle, but I was wondering what could have caused it. Any leads?

Do not worry. In most cases, darkening of the solution and crystals do not influence the developing capacity. Dab a bit of the concentrate on a piece of unexposed film.The film will become black in some seconds, if your Rodinal is healthy.

You can filter your developer through cotton wool. Put some cotton wool into a funnel and pour the Rodinal through it.