Fixing kallitypes, was Re: Ferric Oxalate Solution?

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From: Sandy King (sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu)
Date: 12/23/00-07:58:38 AM Z

Joe,

I made the test and my solution appears to be fine. The color that
resulted was a very decided green, no blue at all.

BTW, what is the current thought on the best way to fix kallitypes?
The literature is all over the board re: both strength of the fixer
(2-5%) and length of fixing (15 seconds to 5 minutes)?

Sandy King

>Yes, there is a simple test. You need a 5% solution of potassium
>ferricyanide (sp?). Take a piece of filter paper or a white coffee filter
>and place a couple of drops of your ferric solution on it. Wait a couple of
>seconds for the solution to soak in. Then add a drop or two of the cyanide
>solution. If your oxalate is good, you will have no or only very pale blue
>coloring. If the more ferric present, the darker the blue. If you are
>getting anything more than a pale blue, you are in trouble. You may be able
>to salvage you ferric oxalate solution by adding, drop by drop, small
>amounts of hydrogen peroxide. There will be some fizzing and heat
>generated, so go slow. Add the peroxide until there is little or no fizzing
>and retest. Hope this helped.
>
>One more thing. Even with heating it will take a bit of time to get all the
>oxalate into solution. If by tomorrow morning you still have some sediment,
>give the bottle a good shake every couple of hours. It will eventually all
>go into solution. I believe the saturation point of ferric oxalate in around
>55 to 60%.
>
>Joe
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Sandy King <sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu>
>To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
>Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 8:59 PM
>Subject: Re: Ferric Oxalate Solution?
>
>
>>
>> Joe,
>>
>> I heated the solution, but violently in the microwave, maybe up to
>> 170F in about a minute. Any way to know if this turned the ferric to
>> ferrous? Most of the oxalate, but not all, went into solution after
>> the above plus some agitation.
>>
>> Sandy
>>

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