Re: Everything I've always wanted to know about sodium sulfite but was afraid to ask...chorleydnc@hotmail . com wrote:
> On May 10, 7:09 am, Jean-David Beyer <jeandav...@verizon . net > wrote:
>> BVStaples wrote:
>>> Greetings all:
>>> I recently picked up a Polaroid 545 and some film, along with the
>>> requisite sodium sulfite and other goodies, and I have some questions
>>> about the sodium sulfite, but cannot find the answers anywhere!
>>> First, is whatever I put in the tray a one-shot use, or can I use the
>>> same solution for multiple negatives? How do I know when it's
>>> depleted? If it's a one use situation, so be it. I do plan on shooting
>>> and then coming home to process, rather than develop in the field.
>> When you use it, scuzzy stuff comes off the negative, that usually settles
>> to the bottom. But not all of it. Eventually, it may redeposit on the
>> negatives. Just before that happens ;-) , replace it. I would not keep it
>> over a day because the stuff oxidizes into sodium sulphate that is less useful.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Second, once used, what's the proper disposal method? I have friends
>>> who pour everything down the drain, and then those who recyle
>>> everything.
>> Dumping it down the drain increases the oxygen demand of the effluent, but
>> home users probably do not dump enough that the sewage treatment plants
>> would even notice.
>>
>> It is technically non toxic, but I strongly advise against drinking it.
>> Causes asthma attacks in some people, and IIRC, you can turn blue if you
>> drink enough of it. Recall that even table salt will kill you very soon if
>> you consume too much of it. The dose makes the poison.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>> Brian
>
> No. it is technically toxic because it turns the hemoglobin in your
> erythrocytes into methylhemoglobin which does not carry oxygen well.
> When a person who is blue (and still alive) turns up to the E.R., the
> routine way of treating them is to give them methylene blue, which
> paradoxically is also blue, but demethylates hemoglobin.
> You could neutralize your sodium sulfite with hydrogen peroxide
> solution, or rusty steel wool, or expose it to air in the sunlight for
> a few days.
>
> David
>
What I meant was that sodium sulfite is allowed as a food additive in USA.
The dose makes the poison.
You could oxidize it any number of ways into sodium sulphate, but in
home-use quantities, it is probably not worth the bother. I suppose you
could use sodium permanganate as well, but you would wish to use the right
amount. One reason you do not want to keep hypo-clear solutions too long is
that they oxidize to sodium sulphate anyway (because of the oxygen they
absorb from the air).
--
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