A D-76 observation---any guesses?

This morning I mixed what might have been my bizillionth gallon of D-76 and the amount of little black flecks of whatever it is that floats around in the stuff seemed excessive enough to warrant filtering the fresh solution through cheesecloth.
My questions are---what are those black flecks and do they need to be in my D-76 for some reason I'm unaware of?
And---has anyone else had a bounty of those black flecks show up in their D-76 recently? Should I be concerned?

Incidental info: I started with a clean Patterson Graduate cylinder, the solution stirred with a Delta blue copy of the Kodak yellow stirring wand. Water is bottled distilled water. I do nuke or heat some of the distilled water prior to mixing to get the overall temperature up past 133 deg F for mixing---this in either a clean ss saucepan on the range, or a clean Pyrex mixing cup in the microwave. The D-76 was manufactured by Alaris and purchased just a few days ago.

FWIW: I've always noticed two or three black flecks when mixing D-76, however never so many as these before.
:confused:

I haven't used pre-packaged D-76 for a very long time--mix my own--but, in general, you don't want any particles floating around in your developer. The potential for problems in the emulsion during development is nothing good! FWIW, I never heat the water beyond 125F and I've never had any issue with all components going into solution.

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Originally Posted by Alan9940

I haven't used pre-packaged D-76 for a very long time--mix my own--but, in general, you don't want any particles floating around in your developer. The potential for problems in the emulsion during development is nothing good! FWIW, I never heat the water beyond 125F and I've never had any issue with all components going into solution.

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What is it? I haven't had this adventure mixing other developers, only with Kodak packaged D-76 :confused:

On those rare occasions when I resort to D-76,I only mix it from basic chemicals and have never had flakes. One Of my students uses my darkroom on occasion and mixes packaged D-76. She also has not seen this problem.
I would suspect the saucepan.Also, heating it above 125 deg may cause a small reaction between 2 or more of the components resulting in the specks you see. Also, if filtering is necessary I am a strong believer in filter papers, or at least paper coffee filters, not cheesecloth.

Maybe the hot basic water is cleaning something loose in your storage jug?

Thanks!

I heat only a small amount of distilled water to 130-ish degrees to warm up a much larger amount of cool water so the entire solution doesn't reach anywhere near 133 degrees, but that might be the problem.

I used cheese cloth for filtering just because it's what I had at hand.

My storage jug is amber glass, but the flecks materialize in the Paterson Graduate Cylinder, this is before the solution gets funneled into the storage jug.

I have had the same problem--actually, it's never caused difficulties for me, I just assumed it was normal. Does it start appearing before you have processed film with it? I always assumed it was something precipitating from the film into the solution.

hmmm, a buddy mixed some Dektol the other day and saw some black flecks in the mixing pail as well. First time ever. Dektol also wasn't clear. but tests showed it processed film and paper fine.

Most dry chem has some debris, dirt, something in it, as at some point it had to be shoveled during mfg...

Filter it out... I use a Melita #6 coffee filter in a funnel... There are different ways to fold it for best flow...

To test, put a piece of unexposed film in developer (in roomlight), and film should turn dark grey/black in about 3 minutes, and it's good...

Steve K

Thank you!
Well, I'm glad I haven't been hallucinating!
The few black flecks haven't been a problem in the past but this time the amount was over the top, hence the reason I asked.

Its been a long time since I've used D-76...and I'm thinking I might try it again soon.

Back in the day, the only time I'd gotten black flecks is when, for a brief period of time, I'd been replenishing my working solution. But I'd never gotten these flecks in the "fresh" stock solution.

This would worry me...I'd think that those black flecks might be something crucial to the efficacy of the formula that was precipitating out. But if your results are good, and if filtering works for you...then Bob's your uncle!

Edit: It has always been my understanding that Kodak (and others, I assume) have (had?) added sequestering agents to their chemistry to help ensure consistency of use despite a variety of water conditions. Perhaps they no longer add these agents? Just a thought!

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Edit: It has always been my understanding that Kodak (and others, I assume) have (had?) added sequestering agents to their chemistry to help ensure consistency of use despite a variety of water conditions. Perhaps they no longer add these agents? Just a thought!

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I'm pretty sure they still do, since I use straight, very hard tap water to mix Kodak powder developers all the time. I literally have no reason not to, since it doesn't leave lime deposits as long as I wash all my negs with the stabilizer detergent from a c-41 kit.

No, that is added so all the ingredents can be mixed together at once, instead of metol first, SS, Hyq, etc individually...

Steve K

Before Eastman Kodak's bankruptcy, Champion made its photo chemicals. Afterward, Alaris sourced photo chemicals from Tetenal. When Tetenal also went bankrupt last year, Alaris began sourcing photo chemicals from a different U.S. supplier. I just performed a cursory search, but can't find the Web page where someone identified which U.S. chemical supplier is the likely latest source. In any case, several reports of undissolvable particles in various Kodak photo chemical products have surfaced since this most recent supplier change.

Between this news and the recent Pyrocat "issue," I'm seriously thinking that I may start mixing absolutely everything from scratch.

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Originally Posted by John Layton

Between this news and the recent Pyrocat "issue," I'm seriously thinking that I may start mixing absolutely everything from scratch.

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You should!!! And it's fun!!! Release you inner mad scientist (or Walter White)...

Steve K

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Originally Posted by LabRat

You should!!! And it's fun!!! Release you inner mad scientist (or Walter White)...

Steve K

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+1

- I have been mixing my own D-76H (unblinkingeye.com recipe), Pyrocat HD, and D-72 (Dektol) from scratch. Get a digital scale, some basket coffee filters, and look up Art Craft Chemicals. It is a lot cheaper and is only slightly more involved than mixing packaged developers. Set yourself free!

Ilford ID11 is a good choice to replace D76. Ilford supports B&W more than Kodak, a good reason to use more of their products.

I used Kodak D-76 regularly back in the 80's and it always had some small black specks floating around after mixing. I always filtered it out before use. I have no idea what it was - perhaps decoration?