U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: Eau de Javelle ( Javel )

Re: Eau de Javelle ( Javel )



  Javelle water or Javel water (both: zh?vel`), Fr. eau de Javelle,
aqueous solution of sodium or potassium hypochlorite. It was originally made
near the French town of Javelle (now part of Paris) and was the first
chemical bleach, a use first demonstrated by C. L. Berthollet in 1785. It
was produced by passing chlorine gas through a water solution of potash
(potassium carbonate potassium carbonate, chemical compound, K2CO3, white,
crystalline, deliquescent substance that forms a strongly alkaline water
solution. It is available commercially as a white, granular powder commonly
called potash, or pearl ash.
       After the invention of bleaching powder bleaching powder, white or
nearly white powder that is usually a mixture of calcium chloride
hypochlorite, CaCl(OCl); calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)2; and calcium
chloride, CaCl2.
        Javelle water was sometimes produced by reacting the bleaching
powder with potash or soda ash (sodium carbonate sodium carbonate, chemical
compound, Na2CO3, soluble in water and very slightly soluble in alcohol.
Pure sodium carbonate is a white, odorless powder that absorbs moisture from
the air, has an alkaline taste, and forms a strongly alkaline water.
       Now usually sodium hypochlorite solution, it is used in bleaching
bleaching, process of whitening by chemicals or by exposure to sun and air,
commonly applied to textiles, paper pulp, wheat flour, petroleum products,
oils and fats, straw, hair, feathers, and wood.
       and as a disinfectant.

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:10 PM
Subject: Eau de Javelle ( Javel )

Hi,
Since someone may be interested in Javel Water, its mentioned on the Internet and also by Lluis Nadeau, ''Gum Dichromate''  1 9 8 7 .  Page 7 6.  ''ARVEL''
Quote:-
'' For a period of about fifteen years preceding World War  11  the Fabrique de papier FRESSON commercialized a ''different'' Direct Carbon paper called  ARVEL. In an attempt to do away with the sawdust development, the paper was exposed under a negative for a period considerably longer than usual i.e. 5  to 20  times longer.  After exposure, the paper was soaked in a 3  to  4%  solution of Javelle water and the (relatively ) unhardened parts of the image were then dissolved, leaving a positive image.''
......................................................................
 
I guess there must have been a great number of photographers making successful  Arvel prints over this 15 year period of time. Where are they, now.........the prints and the photographers ?
 
John - Photographist - London - UK. 
..................................................................................
 

 
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Grocott" <john.grocott403@ntlworld.com>
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: Eau de Javel if you are interested.

> Hi Chris and ALL,
>                                Nice with a dash of lemon on a sunny summer
> day.
> I wonder if anyone on this list has ever used this refreshing cocktail ? ?
> Spelt with  two  ''L 's'', of course.
>
> Chin, chin. Down the hatch !
> Seasonal greetings.
> John. Photographist - London - UK
>
> E.J.Wall's Dictionary of Photography , eighteen ninety seven gives :-
> ''Eau de Javelle is used for eliminating the last traces of hypo from the
> film, and also for reducing over-dense negatives, its action being due to
> hypochlorous acid.  It is a solution containing an alkaline hypochlorite,
> and can be made as follows :-----''
>
> Chloride of lime .............................            2 ozs.
> Carbonate of potash    ............................. 4 ozs
> Water    ......................................................40 ozs.
>
> Agitate the chloride of lime with 30 ozs. water, dissolve the potash in the
> remainder, mix and filter.
> ............................................................................................
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Christina Z. Anderson" <zphoto@montana.net>
> To: "Alt, List" <alt-photo-process-L@usask.ca>
> Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 3:26 AM
> Subject: Eau de Javel if you are interested.
>
>
>> For what it is worth--eau de Javel (one "l" is the correct spelling so the
>> article says) is said to be 4 g. sodium carbonate and 3 g. sodium
>> hypochlorite mixed each separately with a bit of water and then combined
>> in a total water amount of 500ml.  This was used to develop "direct
>> carbon" prints or paper such as Fresson, Arvel, Artigue, also a couple
>> "direct carbon" papers from Germany (Hochheimer-Gummidruckpapier and
>> Buhler's direct carbon paper).  These are prints made with gelatin, not
>> gum.  This is with a 6 min sun exposure in summer, a 2-3% pot bi
>> sensitizer.  Eau was put in a tray and print face down in it.This comes
>> from a 1943 article in the BJP. I am going back through about 200 sources
>> I have on gum and this doesn't apply to me per se but thought someone
>> might have use for it before I toss it.