Abstract: A method of treating chemical liquid, and in particular photographic effluent, to render it more environmentally acceptable, by the addition to an alkaline solution of a salt of a Group III or transition metal to complex with and precipitate out a sequestering agent. Preferred salts are the sulphate, halide, oxychloride or nitrate of aluminium.

Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed photographic silver halide material in a system which includes circulation and replenishment of the processing solution employed in at least one processing step characterized in that said processing step takes place in a processing tank divided into at least two parts separated by a barrier which reduces the mixing of the solutions in the neighboring parts and in that each part is separately recirculated and replenished to maintain a different concentration of a processing bath component in the first or earlier part than the second or later part.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing a bleach accelerator silver salt dispersion by precipitating a salt of a bleach accelerating compound and a silver salt wherein the vAg is maintained at a predetermined level during the precipitation. This invention further provides a photographic element containing a dispersion of grains of a bleach accelerator silver salt wherein the grains are isomorphic or derived from needle or platelet isomorphic crystals.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of preparing a silver halide photographic emulsion which comprises adding to the silver halide emulsion before or during precipitation a non-labile chalcogen compound represented by Formula I:R.sup.1 --X.sup.1 --X.sup.2 --R.sup.2 (Formula I)It further provides a silver halide photographic emulsion prepared by the above method.

Abstract: A method of color processing in which an imagewise exposed color photographic silver halide material is processed by a procedure which comprises treating it with a color developer solution and then with a developer/amplifier solution containing a color developing agent and hydrogen peroxide in which said solutions are replenished so that the overflow from the developer/amplifier solution is treated to remove hydrogen peroxide and used to form the sole replenisher for the color developer solution while the overflow from said color developer solution is disposed of as the net overflow of the two processing solutions.

Abstract: Color photographic materials and methods employ a substrate bearing a silver chloride emulsion. The silver chloride emulsion includes a diamino disulfide and a sulfinate. The diamino disulfide and the sulfinate are included in a weight ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:20, and provide improved storage stability and reduced high temperature sensitivity during exposure.

Abstract: The invention provides a bleach fix agent comprising a dilute solution of an alkaline metal or ammonium thiosulphite or a mixture thereof and iron (III) EDTA together with a soluble sulphite. The invention is characterized in that the soluble sulphite is present in an excess of the amount required for stabilization whereby the sulphite can be sacrificially destroyed by oxidizing agents in use thereby to neutralize the oxidizing effects upon the thiosulphate. The invention is particularly suitable for "RX" processes and results in the possibility of eliminating the stop-bath without allowing staining of the photographic material to occur.

Abstract: A method for treating photographic effluent to remove harmful pollutants and which reduces silver and iron ion concentrations in the effluent to no more than about 2 ppm is disclosed. The method includes an oxidation step to convert reducing sulfur compounds to oxidized products; a heavy metal ion precipitation step; a step of adding a developing agent absorbent and a sequestering agent absorbent; and a step of separating a produced solid phase from a liquid phase. The separated Liquid phase is environmentally acceptable.

Abstract: Bleach compositions and methods that are improvements over those provided by Fyson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,914, are disclosed. A highly preferred bleach composition of this invention (a) has the ferric complex of methyliminodiacetic acid as a bleaching agent, and additionally comprises (b) at least 0.9 mole of acetic acid per liter, (c) from about 15 to about 35 grams per liter of potassium bromide; and (d) has a pH of from about 2.5 to about 4.0.This invention includes the discovery of a synergistic bleaching coaction of a bleach (i) comprising an alkyliminodiacetic acid such as methyliminodiacetic acid, and (ii) which has a pH of from about 3.5 to about 4.5 , and (iii) in which the amount of ferric iron is from about 2 to about 16 grams per liter. This coaction between iron levels and pH was previously unknown and was unexpected.Bleach formulations of this invention can be used in the processing of color photographic materials, such as film.

Abstract: An imagewise exposed photographic silver halide color material is treated in a first processing bath containing a developer solution comprising a color developing agent. After treatment in the first bath, the photographic material is treated in a second processing bath containing a developer/amplifier solution comprising an amplifying oxidant and the color developing agent, wherein developer solution is carried over with the photographic material from the first bath to the second bath. The second bath is replenished with developer/amplifier replenisher solution. The first bath is replenished with developer replenisher solution in sufficient volume to cause overflow of the developer solution from the first bath, which overflow is conveyed from the first bath to the second bath. The concentration of the color developing agent in the developer/amplifier solution of the second bath is maintained at 0.1 to 20 g/l.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of processing a negative color silver halide photographic element comprising taking an exposed color silver halide photographic element with a speed greater than ISO 180 or containing at least one spectrally sensitized silver halide emulsion with a tabularity greater than 100, wherein the photographic element comprises a total amount of incorporated silver and incorporated vehicle of 20 g/m.sup.2 film or less; developing the exposed photographic material; and bleaching the exposed, developed photographic element with a peracid bleach in the presence of a bleach accelerator.

Abstract: This invention provides a color silver halide photographic element having improved color saturation and a method of developing the photographic element. The photographic element comprises at least a first and a second silver halide emulsion layer each sensitized to a different region of the spectrum with at least one of the emulsion layers being in reactive association with a DIR compound which can release an anionic development inhibitor. The photographic element further contains a barrier layer containing an anionic latex polymer such that the barrier layer is positioned further from the support than the first and second silver halide emulsion layers.

Abstract: A method of reducing the environmental impact of ammonium thiosulfate photographic fixers without increasing fixing time is provided. In the method of the invention, up to 60% molar of the total ammonium thiosulfate is replaced by an alkali metal thiosulfate.

Abstract: This invention provides a photographic element containing a polymer layer which reflects a development inhibitor or its precursor released from a DIR compound thereby retarding the diffusion of the development inhibitor to another layer. The polymers used in the barrier layer contain from about 1.times.10.sup.-5 to about 4.times.10.sup.-3 ion forming functional groups. The preferred polymers comprise repeating units of the formula --(A).sub.m -(B).sub.n -- with A derived from a hydrophobic monomer and B derived from an ionic hydrophilic monomer with the more preferred monomers being acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides and methacrylamides. The invention also provides a method of processing a photographic element containing such a barrier layer.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of preparing a silver halide photographic emulsion which comprises adding to the silver halide emulsion before or during sensitization a non-labile chalcogen compound represented by Formula I:R.sup.1 --X.sup.1 --X.sup.2 --R.sup.2 (Formula I)It further provides a silver halide photographic emulsion prepared by the above method.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of preparing a silver halide photographic emulsion which comprises adding to the silver halide emulsion a solid particle dispersion of a non-labile chalcogen compound represented by Formula I:R.sup.1 --X.sup.1 --X.sup.2 --R.sup.2 (Formula I)It further provides a silver halide photographic emulsion prepared by the above method.

Abstract: Photographic processing devices such as stainless steel racks and tanks are cleaned to remove contaminants such as silver by contacting the devices with a cleaning solution comprising water, a mineral acid such as nitric acid, a soluble cerium (IV) salt such as ceric ammonium nitrate, and acetic acid. The cleaning solutions have a pH no greater than 1. The acetic acid inhibits the formation of a brown stain on in the stainless steel.