PHOTOPROCESSING WASH WATER BIOCIDES

Bio-slime is the result of microbial accumulation in photoprocessing wash waters. The slime occasionally causes foul odors, dirt, and streaks on prints, plugged lines and inefficient silver recovery systems. Biocides that prevent bio-growth problems in wash waters and silver recovery systems are Dearcide 702 at 0. 5 ml/l of water, Proxel GXL at 0. 05 ml/l of water, and Bio-Perge at 0. 5 ml/l of water. These biocides are water soluble liquids and are EPA-approved for photoprocessing wash waters. No adverse sensitometric or image-stability effects have been observed in Processes C-41, E-6, KODAK RP X-OMAT, or R-100. Minor long term image-stability effects were observed in Process EP-2. Consequently, special instructions are provided for using biocides with Process EP-2. The use of the biocides results in cleaner processing machines, lines, sumps, and silver recovery systems. The biocides selected should be used only in the final wash.