selenium turned brown

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Recently mixed a large quantity of selenium toner (1:30) with distilled water. Used it on about 10 16x20's and some smaller prints. Next time I used it, it had turned a slightly brownish color. It is stored in a dark brown chemical container. Only about 3 weeks old. It is my understanding selenium toner lasts quite awhile. How does one know when it is exhausted? Any thoughts on why this might have turned brown? Thanks carol

-- carol maurin (cbmaurin@earthlink.net), November 06, 2000

Answers

It does get kind of mucky-looking in storage. It's exhausted when it quits toning in an acceptable time.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), November 06, 2000.

Greetings,

Not to log ago there was some discussion about selenium, though I'm not sure if it was on this forum. Its normal for used selenium to turn color, but it will still be effective. If you get a solid precipitate forming simply strain the solution through a coffee filter. When toning time become excessive, just add a little more selenium. Used in this fashion it will last for years.

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), November 06, 2000.


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