Fuji Hunt Photographic Chemicals, Inc.

Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals U.s.a., Inc.

Hailing Duan

Hongzoon Kim

Mani Philipose

Haixing Wan

William Lovell

Janet M Carlock

A single-part, single-phase liquid color developer concentrate for color photographic development having at least one color developing agent of p-phenylenediamine or a derivative or salt thereof, an aqueous solution containing one or more organic solvents in a weight ratio of water to the organic solvent greater than or equal to about 60:40, a molar ratio of &lsqb;Na &rsqb;/&lsqb;K &rsqb; of at least about 1:2, preferably at least about 2:1, and/or a molar ratio of the organic solvent of Formula (I) to a free base of the p-phenylendiamine or p-phenylendiamine derivative is from about 3:1 to about 30:1 is described. The color developer concentrate is simple to manufacture, stable, compact, easy to use, has good water solubility upon dilution, minimizes mixing errors, and can be used with a very low replenishment rate. A method for processing image-wise exposed photographic color silver halide emulsions using the single-part, single-phase liquid color developer concentrate is also provided.

Single part color photographic developer concentrate

A homogeneous, single part slurry-form color photographic developer composition for use in color photographic processing is provided which comprises a defined compound of Formula (1) and, a p-phenylenediamine derivative, and contains a discontinuous solid phase distributed in a single liquid phase. The slurry is used by being completely dissolved in water, and diluted to make a working tank developer or developer replenisher solution, typically with a pH of about 10.4 or less for the working tank and 12.0 or less for the replenisher. The slurry is compact, homogeneous, easy to dispense, has excellent water solubility, and remains free of degradation during long-term storage. A process for developing photographic color silver halide photosensitive material with the slurry is also provided, as well as a process for making the slurry.

Method of making a single part color photographic processing composition in slurry form

Process and apparatus for treating an aqueous effluent with high concentrations of silver and ferric/ferrous complexes using multiple additions of one or more water-soluble sulfur containing polymer chelating agents, with optional additions of non-polymeric sulfur containing compounds. The presence of a high concentration of both dissolved silver and ferric/ferrous complexes prevents efficient silver removal by precipitation and the achievement of a very low residual silver concentration. By using multiple additions of the chelating agent(s), a higher degree of silver removal can be achieved than would be possible with the same amount of chelating agents added in a single stage. Effluent from photo finishing operations, particularly minilabs, can be effectively treated so that there is essentially no silver remaining in the treated effluent.

Process for removing silver in the presence of iron from waste effluent

Metal ions and/or complexes of metal ions are removed from a solution by formation of an insoluble chelated complex of the metal ions and a polymeric precipitating agent. A two-step process of mixing the influent with the precipitating agent is used to induce rapid precipitation and obtain large, self-agglomerated precipitate without addition of flocculating agent and/or pH adjustment. In addition, parallel loops are employed to simultaneously discharge treated metal-free solution and effectively collect/remove the precipitate-containing sludge without interfering with each other. The metal capturing capacity of the polymeric precipitant is maximized by forcing the influent solution through layers of the collected precipitate and by recycling unsaturated metal-precipitant complexes in the processing loop.

Method for removing metal ions and/or complexes containing metal ions

A homogeneous, single part slurry-form color photographic developer composition for use in color photographic processing is provided which comprises a defined compound of Formula (I) and, a p-phenylenediamine derivative, and contains a discontinuous solid phase distributed in a single liquid phase. The slurry is used by being completely dissolved in water, and diluted to make a working tank developer or developer replenisher solution, typically with a pH of about 10.4 or less for the working tank and 12.0 or less for the replenisher. The slurry is compact, homogeneous, easy to dispense, has excellent water solubility, and remains free of degradation during long-term storage. A process for developing photographic color silver halide photosensitive material with the slurry is also provided, as well as a process for making the slurry.

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Montville, NJ, United States of America

Hailing Duan