Sodium Bisulfite UK Source

[kev curry]

I can find Sodium Sulphate or Sulfphite or even Sodium Metabisulphite, but I cant find any Sodium Bisulfite for PMK Pyro? Is one of the above a substitute? Ive tried Silverprint and Retrophotographic's website's with no luck and I dont know any other stockists of photo chemicals, any ideas folks?

cheers
kev

[Vlad Soare]

Sorry, I don't know any other supplier in the UK besides those two, but in case you can't find any, here's one in Germany that also ships abroad:

Fototechnik Suvatlar
Simrockstr.178a
D-22589 Hamburg

Tel.040 / 39 57 09 und 040 / 39 79 31
Fax: 040 / 39 19 08 66
Mobil: 0173 / 60 11 77 2

E-Mail: fotosuvatlar@live.de

Here is a PDF with a complete list of chemicals in stock. What you're after is called "Natriumdisulfit" or "Natriumbisulfit" in German and is listed at 4.96 euros for 100g, VAT included.

I just bought some chemicals from Mr. Suvatlar. He's a pleasure to deal with.

[kev curry]

Thanks for all the details and the translation VladSoare its really very good of you.
If I cant find a UK source I'll order from Mr. Suvatlar.

Vielen Dank für die Information
kev

[IanG]

Sodium Bisulphite is available in the UK, but it's fairly unstable, very expensive and only sold as a high AR grade chemical.

However Sodium Metabisulphite is normally used instead, mainly only Kodak formulae use Bisulphite, Kodak's own is a mixture of Bisulphite & Metabisulphite which can vary substantially. They are interchangeable in photographic use, although Metabisulphite has slightly better preservative properties so should be used when a formula specifies it rather than Bisulphite. In solution Metabisulphite forms Bisulphite.

Boots (in the UK) sell Sodium Metabisulphite for home brewing

Ian

[kev curry]

Ahh... so Metabisulphite becomes Bisulphite when added to water eh, how convenient is that. Gordon Hutchins managed to omitted that little nugget from the pages;-) I received a PM from another member who corroborates your story to the letter, so watch out Metabisulphite you will soon be converted

Cheers

[IanG]

I used to buy Metbisulphite 100 - 400 kg at a time (in 25Kg bags) the same supplier sold Bisulphite as well, in reality it's the amount of SO2 produced when they dissolve that differs, Bisulphite is always a mixture of the two. For this reason Metabisulphite is preferred in the food industry & wineries. In the UK & EU mainly Metabisulphite is available, in the US more Bisulphite.

Ian

[Pete Watkins]

For Sodium Metabisulphite try your local home brew shop (if you have one) or look at home brewing / winemaking websites.
P

[kev curry]

Cheers Pete

[Vlad Soare]

I was just reading Steve Anchell's Darkroom Cookbook, and at page 22 he states that: "Sodium bisulfite and sodium metabisulfite are for all practical purposes identical and are often the same chemical."

[kev curry]

Excellent