JPS62184459A - Method and device for treating photographic treatment waste liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove offensive order or harmful components generated by the evapolating treatment of waste liquid, to execute distillation work under a fixed condition and to improve the efficiency of distillation by heating and distilling photographic treatment waste liquid supplied into a distilling means, treating its condensated water, treating also a non-condensated component, and discharging the treated components to the outside. CONSTITUTION:The photographic treatment waste liquid is supplied to an evapolating means 200 in a treating room 210 by a waste liquid supplying means 100 through a guide pipe 101 and stored in a container 220. The waste liquid is evapolated by a heating means 240 and a belt 231 of a dip-up means 230 is dipped into the waste liquid, moved to the treating room 210 to accelerate its evapolation. Generated steam is sent to a heat exchange means 300 and cooled with air by a fan 310 to condensate the steam. The condensated water is filtered by a filtering means 400 and offensive order of harmful components are removed from the filtered water through a discharging means 500 filled with an adsorbing means 400. On the other hand, air exhausted from the heat exchange means 300 is reheated by a heater 610 and supplied to the treating room 210 by a fan 620.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is directed to processing waste liquid (abbreviated herein as photographic processing waste liquid or waste liquid) generated during the processing of photographic light-sensitive materials using an automatic photographic processor. The present invention relates to a method for processing waste liquid of photographic processing suitable for processing by disposing in or near an automatic processor, and a processing apparatus suitable for use in carrying out the method.

[Background of the Invention] In general, photographic processing of silver halide photographic materials includes development, fixing, and water washing in the case of black and white materials, and color development, bleach-fixing (or bleaching, fixed M) in the case of color photographic materials. A combination of processes using a treatment liquid having one or more functions such as , water washing, and stabilization is performed.

In photographic processing in which a large amount of light-sensitive material is processed, the components consumed during processing are replenished, while the components that are concentrated by elution or evaporation into the processing solution (
Measures have been taken to maintain the performance of the processing solution at a constant level by removing bromide ions in the developing solution and silver complex salts in the fixing solution to keep the processing solution components constant.

A replenisher is added to the processing solution for the above replenishment, and a portion of the processing solution is discarded to remove the thickening components in the photographic processing.

In recent years, systems have been changing to systems in which the amount of replenishment of processing solutions, including washing water, has been significantly reduced due to pollution and economic reasons. It is then diluted with waste water from washing water or cooling water from automatic processors and disposed of in sewers, etc.

However, due to the recent tightening of pollution control by the Water Pollution Control Law and the ordinances of each prefecture, it is possible to dispose of washing water and cooling water into sewers or rivers, but other photographic processing solutions [e.g. It is virtually impossible to dispose of standard liquids (color developing solution, bleach-fix solution (or bleach solution, fix solution), stabilizer solution, etc.). For this reason, each photo processing company pays a collection fee to a specialized waste liquid processing company to collect the waste liquid, or installs pollution treatment equipment.

However, the method of outsourcing to a waste liquid treatment company requires a considerable amount of space to store the waste liquid, and is also extremely expensive.Furthermore, the initial investment (initial cost) for pollution treatment equipment is extremely high. It has drawbacks such as being large and requiring a fairly large area to maintain. More specifically, the activated sludge method (for example,
Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-12943 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-7952, etc.), evaporation method (Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-89437 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 1989)
No. 11-33998, etc.), electrolytic oxidation method (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1983-8
No. 441112, Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-119458, Special Publication No. 5
3-43478, JP-A-49-119457, etc.),
Ion exchange method (Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-37704, Japanese Patent Publication No. 53
-383, Japanese Patent Publication Di No. 53-43271, etc.), reverse osmosis method (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 50-22483, etc.), chemical treatment method (
Japanese Patent Publication No. 411-84257, Publication No. 57-37398
No., JP-A-53-12152, JP-A-413-588
No. 33, Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-83783, Special Publication No. 57-37
No. 395, etc.) are becoming known, but they are still not sufficient.

On the other hand, due to constraints from water resources, rising water supply and drainage costs, the simplicity of automatic processor equipment, and the work environment around automatic processors, in recent years stabilization treatment has been used instead of washing with water, and Photographic processing using automatic developing machines (so-called waterless automatic developing machines) that do not require piping for water supply and drainage is becoming popular. In such processing, it is desired that cooling water for controlling the temperature of the processing liquid can also be omitted. In such photographic processing that does not substantially use water submersion or cooling water, the photographic processing waste liquid from the automatic processing machine is not diluted with water compared to the case where water washing is used, so the pollution load is extremely large. It has the characteristic of being small in quantity. Therefore, since the amount of waste liquid is small, piping outside the machine for supplying and draining liquid can be omitted. As a result, it is difficult to move after installation to install piping, the leg space is small, piping work at the time of installation requires a large amount of money, and energy costs for hot water supply are required. All of the machine's shortcomings have been eliminated, and it has the extremely great advantage of being made compact and simple enough to be used as an office machine.

However, on the other hand, the waste liquid has an extremely high pollution load, and it is completely impossible to dispose of it not only in rivers but also in sewers in accordance with pollution regulations.
Furthermore, although the amount of waste liquid in such photographic processing (processing that does not substantially involve water washing) is small, even in relatively small-scale processing, for example, in the processing of X-ray photosensitive materials, 10 times a day! L. The processing of photosensitive materials for printing and plate making amounts to about 3,041 units per day, and the processing of color photosensitive materials requires approximately 50 units per day, and the disposal of the waste liquid has become an increasingly big problem in recent years.

In order to easily process photographic processing waste liquid, an apparatus for heating the photographic processing waste liquid and evaporating the moisture to dryness or solidification is shown in Utility Model Application Publication No. 80-70841. , reduction in thermal efficiency due to tar generation,
and could not satisfy the demand for pollution-free production. In recent years, the amount of evaporation tends to increase further due to lower replenishment amounts, lower renewal rates due to compact laboratories, and higher temperature processing of processing solutions due to faster processing, and therefore the above-mentioned drawbacks tend to be further magnified. .

Furthermore, in general, when photographic processing waste liquid is evaporated, harmful or extremely malodorous gases such as sulfur dioxide gas, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia gas are generated. This is thought to occur when ammonium thiosulfate and sulfites (ammonium salt, sodium salt, or potassium salt), which are often used as fixing solutions and bleach-fixing solutions in photographic processing solutions, decompose due to high temperatures. Further, during the evaporation process, moisture and the like in the photographic processing waste liquid becomes vapor and gasifies, thereby expanding the volume and increasing the pressure in the evaporation pot. Therefore, this pressure causes the harmful or malodorous gas to leak out of the evaporation treatment device.

Extremely unfavorable in terms of work environment.

Therefore, in order to solve these problems, for example,
No. 0841 discloses a method of providing an exhaust gas treatment section in the exhaust pipe section of an evaporation treatment device. but.

This method has the serious drawback that water vapor from a large amount of water in the photographic processing waste liquid condenses or condenses in the exhaust gas treatment section, covering the gas absorption processing agent and causing it to instantly lose its gas absorption ability. , which could not yet be put to practical use.

[Purpose] The present invention aims to further develop the idea of a photographic evaporation processing apparatus as shown in the above-mentioned Utility Model Application Publication No. 80-70841, and to clarify various improvements for its practical use. The main objectives are: A. Processing method or apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid that is most suitable for processing photographic processing waste liquid in photographic processing facilities equipped with a single or a small number of automatic processors; B. Photographic processing waste liquid. A method or device for processing photographic processing waste liquid that can remove bad odors or harmful components generated by evaporation treatment.

C1. Method or device for processing waste liquid of photographic processing that allows distillation work to be carried out under constant conditions; D. Method or device for processing waste liquid of photographic processing that significantly improves distillation efficiency; E. Compact and simple method for processing waste liquid of photographic processing. or equipment.

The purpose is to clarify the

[Summary of the Invention] The method for processing a photographic processing liquid of the present invention which achieves the above object comprises: heating and evaporating photographic processing waste liquid or processed waste liquid supplied into an evaporating means, and condensing or fogging the vapor generated by the evaporation. The photographic processing solution of the present invention is characterized in that it processes the condensed water or distilled water produced by condensation, and also processes non-condensed components other than the condensed water or distilled water and releases them to the outside, and also achieves the above object. What is the processing method?

A. Means for supplying photographic processing waste liquid into the evaporation means B. Evaporation means having means for storing the supplied photographic processing waste liquid or processed waste liquid and means for heating; C0 Heat for condensing the vapor generated by the above means. Exchange means; D. Filtration means for filtering condensed water; E. A. Exhaust means for processing non-condensed components that have passed through the exchange means and discharging them to the outside.

It is characterized by having the following.

[Structure of the invention] The present invention will be explained in detail below.

In the method and apparatus for processing photographic processing waste liquid of the present invention, the effects of the present invention can only be obtained when the above-mentioned means A, BC, D, and H are used in combination. Even if there is only one means, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained if it does not exist.For example, if means A is not available, a compact and simple method and apparatus for processing photographic processing waste liquid is impossible, and When there is no means for B.

In this case, the evaporation process itself cannot be carried out, and if there is no means C, the steam will condense and condense at the exhaust means E, rendering the exhaust means ineffective.Furthermore, if there is no means D, The waste liquid evaporates and the condensed aqueous solution and organic solvent are discharged to the outside.The inventors have conducted various studies and found that sulfur dioxide gas and hydrogen sulfide gas are dissolved in the condensed aqueous solution. Furthermore, it was found that organic solvents and organic acids such as ethylene glycol, acetic acid, diethylene glycol, and benzyl alcohol, which came out as gases through an azeotropic phenomenon with water in the photographic waste liquid, also distilled out as fractions. For this reason, condensed water has high pollution values such as BOD and COD, and it is almost impossible to discharge it as it is into external sewers or rivers.

Furthermore, if there is no means E, the volume will expand significantly due to water vaporization during the evaporation process, and the pressure in the evaporator will increase, causing harmful gases to leak to the outside or causing the evaporator to overheat. This could lead to pressure and become a dangerous situation.

The photographic processing liquid or photographic processing waste liquid of an automatic processor to which the method and apparatus for treating photographic processing waste liquid of the present invention are applied will be described.

The automatic processor designated by the reference numeral 10 in Figure 1 and shown in Figure 1 continuously guides a roll of photographic material F to a color development tank CD, a bleach-fix tank BF, and a stabilization tank Sb. It is a type that is photographically processed, dried, and then rolled up (although not shown, the automatic developing machine includes a color developing tank CD in which the photographic light-sensitive material is guided by a short leader or guide roller,
There are various types including a bleaching tank BL, a fixing tank FIX, a washing moss stabilizing tank Sb, and a second stabilizing tank, but the one shown in the figure is a typical example), 11 is a replenisher tank, which will be described in detail later. The sensor 21 detects the amount of photographic processing of the photographic light-sensitive material F, and the control device 20 replenishes each processing tank with replenisher according to the detected information.

The method of photographic processing, the structure of the photographic processing tank, and the method of replenishing the replenisher are not limited to those described above.
-132146 and 58-18631, patent application No. 1973
The present invention can also be applied to other systems or configurations, including the so-called waterless washing system shown in No. 9-119840 and No. 59-120658.

'vx 亙亙GAIJiichi The photographic processing waste liquid that can be processed according to the present invention,
As a representative example, we will discuss in detail the waste liquid produced when processing silver halogen color photographic materials using a photographic processing solution when the photographic material is for color use. The photographic processing waste liquid that can be produced is not limited to this, but includes waste liquid that is generated when silver halide color photographic materials are processed using other photographic processing liquids.

A color developing solution is a processing solution used in a color development process (a process of forming a color image, specifically a process of forming a color image through a coupling reaction between an oxidized form of a color developing agent and a color coupler). Therefore, in the color development processing process, it is usually necessary to include a color developing agent in the color developing solution, but color developing agents are incorporated in the color photographic material. The color developing agent contained in the 0-color developing solution, which may be treated with a developer or an alkaline solution (activator solution), is an aromatic primary amine color developing agent, and is an aminophenol-based and p-phenyrezine amine-based color developing agent. Contains derivatives. These color developing agents can be used as salts of organic and inorganic acids, such as hydrochlorides, sulfates, phosphates, p-)luenesulfonates, sulfites, oxalates,
Use benzene disulfonate, etc. These compounds are generally present at a concentration of about 0.1 g to about 30 g per color developer 11, more preferably about 1 g per color developer 131.
It is used at a concentration of 15 g to 15 g.

Examples of the above amine phenol developer include O-amine phenol, p-7 minophenol, 5-amino-
Included are 2-oxy-toluene, 2-amino-3-oxy-toluene, 2-oxy-3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-benzene, and the like.

The color developing solution may contain alkaline agents commonly used in developing solutions, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium metaborate or borax, and further. Various additives 1 such as benzyl alcohol,
The alkali metal halide 1 may contain, for example, potassium bromide or potassium chloride, a development regulator such as citradinic acid, and a preservative such as hydroxylamine or sulfite. Furthermore, various antifoaming agents and surfactants, and organic solvents such as methanol, dimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide may be appropriately contained. The pH of the color developing solution is usually 7 or more, preferably about 8-13.

In addition, diethylhydroxyamine and tetronic acid are added to the color developing solution as antioxidants as necessary.

Tetronimide, 2-anilinoethanol, dihydroxyacetone, aromatic secondary alcohol, hydroxamic acid,
Pentose or hexose, pyrogallol-1,3-
Dimethyl ether, etc. may be contained.Furthermore, various chelating agents may be used in combination as metal ion sequestering agents in the color developing solution.For example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid, etc. 7minopolycarboxylic acid, l-hydroxyethylidene-1
, 1-diphosphonic acid and other organic phosphonic acids, aminotri(
aminopolyphosphonic acids such as methylene phosphonic acid) or ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid, oxycarboxylic acids such as citric acid or gluconic acid, phosphonocarboxylic acids such as 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-)licarponic acid, tripolyphosphoric acid Alternatively, polyphosphoric acids such as hexametaphosphoric acid, polyhydroxy compounds, etc. may be mentioned.

The bleach-fix solution is used in the bleach-fixing process (a process in which metallic silver produced during development is oxidized and replaced with silver halide, and then a water-soluble complex is formed and the uncolored areas of the color former are colored).
The bleaching agent used in the bleach-fixing solution can be of any type.For example, a metal complex salt of an organic acid is an aminopolycarboxylic acid or an organic acid such as boric acid or citric acid, Coordinated with metal ions such as cobalt and copper. Examples of organic acids used to form such metal complex salts of alkaline acids include polycarboxylic acids and aminopolycarboxylic acids.

These polycarboxylic acids or aminopolycarboxylic acids may be alkali metal salts, ammonium salts or water-soluble amine salts, specific examples of which include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid,
Ethylenediamine-N-(β-oxyethyl)-N,N
, N-triacetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, dihydroxyethylglycine citric acid (or tartaric acid), ethyl etherdiaminetetraacetic acid, glycol etherdiaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid, phenylene Diaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetra(trimethylammonium) salt, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid pentasodium salt, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (β-oxyethyl)-N,N
, N-triacetic acid sodium salt, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid sodium salt, nitrilotriacetic acid sodium salt, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid sodium salt, etc., and these bleaching agents are 5 to 450 g/l, more preferably 10 to 150 g/l. Used in Jl. The bleach-fixing solution contains a silver halide fixing agent in addition to the above bleaching agent, and if necessary, a solution containing sulfite as a preservative is applied. Additionally, iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (
m) A bleach-fix solution consisting of a complex salt bleach and a small amount of a halide such as ammonium bromide other than the above-mentioned silver halide fixer, or conversely a composition containing a large amount of a halide such as ammonium bromide. Further, a special bleach-fix solution having a composition consisting of a combination of an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (m) complex salt bleaching agent and a large amount of a halide such as ammonium bromide may be used. As the halides, in addition to ammonium bromide, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, lithium bromide, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, natrirum iodide, potassium iodide, ammonium iodide, etc. can also be used. can.

The silver halide fixing agent contained in the bleach-fixing solution includes compounds that react with silver halide to form water-soluble complex salts, such as potassium thiosulfate and sodium thiosulfate, which are used in ordinary fixing processes. Typical examples thereof include periosulfates such as ammonium thiosulfate, thiocyanates such as potassium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, and ammonium thiocyanate, thioureas, and thioethers. These fixing agents are used in an amount of 5g/1 or more within the range that can be dissolved, but generally 70g to 250g/1 or more.
Used in g/mi.

Note that the PM white fixer contains boric acid, boric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate.

Various pH values such as potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, acetic acid, sodium acetate, ammonium hydroxide, etc.
It may contain a single buffer or a combination of two or more buffers. Furthermore, it may contain various optical brighteners, antifoaming agents, or surfactants. In addition, preservatives such as hydroxylamine, hydrazine, bisulfite adducts of aldehyde compounds, organic chelating agents such as aminopolycarboxylic acids, stabilizers such as nitroalcohols and nitrates, and organic It may also contain a solvent etc. as appropriate. Furthermore,
The bleach-fixing solution is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 46-280 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 45-8.
No. 506, No. 46-556, Belgian Patent No. 770,
No. 910, Special Publication No. 45-8836, No. 53-9854
No., JP-A No. 54-71634 and JP-A No. 49-42349
Various bleaching accelerators described in the above may be added.

The pH of the bleach-fix solution is used at 4.0 or higher, but it is generally used at pH 5.0 or higher and pHL 5 or lower, preferably at pl (6, Q or higher, P) 18.5 or lower, and more preferably, it is used at a pH of 18.5 or lower. Processing is performed at a pH of 6.5 or more and 8.5 or less.

Note that the bleach-fixing process may be carried out separately into a bleaching process using a bleaching solution containing the above-mentioned bleach as a main component and a fixing process using a fixing solution containing the above-mentioned fixing agent as a product.

The water-washing alternative stabilizer is not a normal stabilization process but a water-washing alternative, and refers to image stabilization processes such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-134636, as well as Japanese Patent Application No. 58-2709, etc. This is to essentially eliminate the need for water washing. Therefore, the name of the treatment bath does not necessarily have to be stabilization treatment.
In the present invention, when used in conjunction with a stabilization treatment instead of washing with water, the amount of waste liquid outside the color developing tank is small and is preferable for evaporation treatment.

There are also stabilizers that have the function of stabilizing color images and those that have a draining bath function that prevents contamination such as uneven washing. These stabilizers also include coloring adjustment liquids for coloring color images and antistatic liquids containing antistatic agents. When bleach-fixing components are brought into the stabilizing solution from the pre-bath, measures are taken to neutralize, desalt and inactivate them so as not to deteriorate the shelf life of the components.

The components contained in such a stabilizing solution include those having a chelate stability constant of 6 or more (especially preferably 8 or more) with iron ions.
There are chelating agents that are These chelating agents include organic carboxylic acid chelating agents, organic phosphoric acid chelating agents, polyhydroxy compounds, inorganic phosphoric acid chelating agents, etc. Among them, preferred chelating agents include ethylenediamine diorthohydroxyphenylacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, Hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid.

Diaminopropanoltetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetrakismethylenephosphonic acid, nitrilotrimethylenephosphonic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,l-diphosphonic acid, 1,1-diphosphonethane-2-carboxylic acid, 2-
Phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic 11-hydroxy-! -phosphonopropane-1.2.3-tricarboxylic acid, catechol-3,5-disulfonic acid, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tetrapolyphosphate, and sodium hexametaphosphate, and particularly preferred for the effects of the present invention are diethylenetriamine These include acetic acid, l-hydroxyethylideso 1,1-diphosphonic acid, and salts thereof. These compounds are generally about 0 for Stabilizer 141.
．． A concentration of 1 g to 10 g is used, more preferably a concentration of about 0.5 g to 5 g for stabilizer 11.

Compounds added to the stabilizing solution include ammonium compounds. These are supplied by ammonium salts of various inorganic compounds, specifically ammonium hydroxide, ammonium bromide, ammonium carbonate, a! ammonium chloride, ammonium hypophosphite, ammonium phosphate, ammonium phosphite, ammonium fluoride, acidic ammonium fluoride, ammonium fluoroborate, ammonium arsenate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium hydrogen fluoride, ammonium hydrogen sulfate, ammonium sulfate,
Ammonium iodide, ammonium nitrate, ammonium pentaborate, ammonium acetate.

Ammonium adipate, ammonium lauric tricarboxylate, ammonium benzoate, ammonium carbamate, ammonium citrate, ammonium diethyldithiocarbamate, ammonium formate, ammonium hydrogen malate, ammonium hydrogen oxalate, ammonium hydrogen phthalate, ammonium hydrogen tartrate, ammonium lactate, Ammonium malate, ammonium maleate, ammonium oxalate, ammonium phthalate, ammonium picrate, ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, ammonium salicylate, ammonium succinate, ammonium sulfanilate, ammonium tartrate, ammonium thioglycolate, 2,4.8- Trinitrophenol ammonium, etc. The amount of these ammonium compounds added is 0.05 to 11 per stabilizer solution.
Used in the range of 100g, preferably 0.1-20g
Used within the range of

Compounds added to the stabilizing solution include pHW adjusters such as acetic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfanilic acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, butyl hydroxybenzoate, antibiotics, Tehydroacetic acid, potassium sorbate, thiabendazole, ortho-phenylphenol, etc., 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-year-old cutyl-4-
Isothiazolin-3-one, 1-2-benzisothiazolin-3-one.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application No. 59-148325 No. 26-30
Anti-pissing agents, preservatives such as water-soluble metal salts, ethylene glycol, coal, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP
Dispersants such as K-15, K-17, etc.).

Examples include hardening agents such as formalin, optical brighteners, and the like. Among these additive compounds, Japanese Patent Application No. 58-5869
The ammonium compound described in No. 3 serves to adjust the pH in the image coating to a slightly acidic state that is optimal for preservation. Compounds used together with ammonium compounds include acids, such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. In particular, in the present invention, when using the water washing substitute stabilizing liquid containing the anti-spill agent, it is particularly preferably used because less tar is generated in the evaporation treatment apparatus.

The pH value of the stabilizer is adjusted to 0.1-10, preferably 2-8. More preferably, the treatment is carried out at a pH of 4 to 8.5.

In addition, it is preferable to use a multi-stage tank for the stabilization treatment process, and to use a backflow method in which the replenisher is replenished from the final stage tank and sequentially overflows to the previous stage tank, since the amount of replenishment can be reduced. Although not required at all, rinsing with a small amount of water in an extremely short period of time, surface cleaning, etc. may be performed as necessary.

When stabilizing treatment is performed directly following the bleach-fixing process without substantially undergoing a water washing process, a short period of silver recovery or rinsing with standing water may be used between the bleach-fixing bath and the stabilizing bath. etc. may be provided.

Note that after the stabilization treatment, a draining bath containing a surfactant or the like may be provided, but preferably a silver recovery bath, rinsing, draining bath, etc. are not provided. These additional treatments may include spraying or painting.

In addition, a conditioning tank may be provided after the color development process, and the conditioning tank is used to stop the development and accelerate the bleaching reaction, and prevents the developer from being mixed into the bleach-fix solution and its negative effects. The conditioning bath contains, for example, a bleach accelerator and a buffering agent to help reduce the amount of bleaching. As the bleaching accelerator, organic sulfur compounds are generally used, including mercapto compounds and thione compounds. Furthermore, acids and alkaline agents such as acetic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide are used to adjust the pH of the conditioner. The amount of these bleach accelerators and buffers added is 1 conditioner! 0.001g per liter
It is used in a range from 100g to 100g. In addition to the above additives, chelating agents and the like may also be added.

When the photosensitive material to be processed is for negative use, an aldehyde derivative may be added to the negative stabilizer in order to improve the storage stability of photographic images.

The stabilizer for negatives may contain various additives as necessary, such as water droplet prevention agents such as siloxane derivatives, boric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, or sodium hydroxide, sodium acetate, potassium citrate, etc. pH adjusters, hardening agents such as potash alum and chromium alum, organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethylene glycol.

Additives such as humidity conditioning agents such as polyethylene glycol and other color toning agents may be added to improve or extend the processing effect.

Further, the negative stabilizing liquid may be partitioned into two or more sections in order to increase the length of the countercurrent flow path, similar to the above-mentioned stabilizing liquid.
Further, the method of preparing the replenisher and the amount of replenishment may be the same as in the case of the above-mentioned stabilizing solution.

In addition, stilbene-based optical brighteners are sometimes used in color developing solutions and stabilizers for color paper.

The components contained in the waste liquid of the color developing solution include the various components or additives mentioned above, and components that are eluted and accumulated from the photographic material being processed.

The components contained in the waste liquid of the bleach-fix solution and stabilizer include the various components or additives mentioned above, and components that are eluted and accumulated from the photographic material being processed.

Next, the outline of the photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

When each photographic processing tank is replenished with the replenisher, it is discharged from the processing tank as an overflow waste liquid, and preferably, the photographic processing waste liquid is collected separately or in two or more sections and collected in stock tanks 30 and 31. It also includes providing a plurality of processing means 40 and using one or more of them as stock tanks (for example, alternately using them as stock tanks and processing means).

By using the stock tanks 30 and 31 to process a certain amount at one time, the concentrated or dried photographic processing waste liquid can be made uniform, and the stock tanks 30 and 31 serve as buffers from the photographic processing tank to the processing means. It is useful as

In the illustrated automatic developing machine, the amount that overflows from the upper part of the processing tank due to replenishment of the replenisher is treated as photographic processing waste solution.

Stock tank 30 for overflowing photographic processing waste liquid
・A simple method for transferring the photoprocessing waste liquid to 31 is to allow it to fall naturally through a guide tube, but it is also possible to arrange a heat exchanger in the middle to collect the thermal energy possessed by the photographic processing waste liquid, or A means for preheating the photographic processing waste liquid or evaporating water before it is collected in the stock tanks 30 and 31 by using the thermal energy of an automatic processor or an evaporation processing apparatus described later may be provided.
There may also be cases where they are forcibly transferred from 3rd class.

Moreover, as mentioned above, each photographic processing tank CD, BF, Sb
Since there are differences in the components of photographic processing waste liquids, in the present invention, all photographic processing waste liquids are not treated at once, but are processed separately for each photographic processing tank or for each waste liquid of processing tanks divided into two or three or more groups. It is preferable to prepare stock tanks 30 and 31 and process them separately. In particular, from the point of view of silver recovery, waste liquid from the color developing tank CD, bleach-fix tank BF, and washing alternative stabilizing tank s are preferably treated separately.
It is advantageous to separate the waste liquid from b.

Further, the waste liquid may be forcibly transferred to a stock tank by piping to a waste liquid tank in an existing automatic developing machine or the like using a pump.Furthermore, the waste liquid tank of the automatic developing machine itself can be used as a stock tank. In this case, it is preferable to detect the weight of the stock tank and operate the pump to forcibly transfer the waste liquid through piping.It is also possible to float a float in the waste liquid tank and operate the pump by detecting the liquid level above a certain level. It is easy to install in an existing automatic processor and is preferable.

The processing means 40 includes heating means 41. Processing chamber 42 containing means for storing photographic processing waste liquid (concentrate) during processing or after processing
．． It includes means 43 for discharging processed photographic processing waste liquid (concentrate) from the processing chamber 42.

Additionally, distilled water recycling 60 preferably includes gas adsorption means 50 such as filters, adsorbents, etc. and steam cooling means.
It is also possible to provide an embodiment with additional means.

As the heating means 41, the heat source and heating (evaporation) method are important, but there is no reason to limit the application of the present invention to a specific one, and any effective heat source such as electricity, gas solar heat, etc. This includes heating the photographic processing waste liquid by using one or a combination of two or more and evaporating the photographic processing waste liquid to concentrate or dry it. In addition, there are those that store the photographic processing waste liquid in the processing chamber 42 and heat the whole, for example, those that drop or drop (including spraying) the photographic processing waste liquid onto a heating element such as an overheated metal plate and evaporate it in fixed amounts. It is possible to have various configurations, including one that continuously processes by supplying it to a heat source.Furthermore, the photographic processing waste liquid is sprayed in the form of mist into the processing chamber 42, and heated air is applied to evaporate the photographic processing waste liquid. Alternatively, the heated air may be introduced into the photographic processing waste liquid.

Further, in the case of spraying, it is preferable to place the photographic processing waste liquid on a heated swirling air stream, and a spray drying apparatus can be used.

The position of the heating means 41 is arbitrary, such as above the collected photographic processing waste liquid, inside the processing chamber 42, or outside the processing chamber 42.

In addition, when the heating means 41 is in direct contact with the photographic processing waste liquid, such as a quartz tube with a built-in heat source such as a nichrome wire or an electric heating plate,
In order to prevent concentrated or dried photographic processing waste liquid from sticking to the surface and reducing thermal efficiency, the waste liquid should be brought into contact with the waste liquid through a metal or the like having a protective film such as fluororesin (e.g. Teflon). It is preferable to keep it.

The configuration of the processing chamber 42 is determined in accordance with the configuration of the heating means 41 described above, but it is preferable to use a reduced pressure atmosphere and lower the lighting to promote water evaporation.

As shown in the figure, if the processing chamber 42 is configured to store the photographic processing waste liquid to be processed or the processed material, an inner pot is formed of metal, ceramics, synthetic resin, etc. It is preferable to take out the entire inner pot and discard or dispose of it.

The ejection means 43 can be designed in various ways, such as one using the above-mentioned inner pot, a known ejection device using a rotary screw pump, or one that allows the ejection to fall naturally from the bottom of the processing chamber 42 via a valve. .

Alternatively, a liquid-absorbing resin, a solidifying agent, a drying agent such as lime may be added to the concentrated liquid to solidify it and then discharged. It is also preferable to do so.

The gas adsorption means 50 absorbs hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxide, or ammonia gas (H2) contained in the evaporated photographic processing waste liquid.
This method separates and recovers harmful gases such as S, SO2, NH3, etc. using various desulfurization and adsorption technologies such as zeolite adsorbents and activated carbon.

The gas adsorption means 50 may be arranged after the cooling means 60, as will be described later.

The cooling means 80 performs secondary treatment of the vapor evaporated by the waste liquid treatment means 40 using activated carbon, reverse osmosis membrane, ultraviolet irradiation, oxidizing agent, etc., and discards it as distilled water or replenishes the photographic processing liquid 1 in the automatic processor 10, for example. It is intended to be used as dissolving water for liquids or as a stabilizing liquid in place of washing with water.

The control in the evaporation processing apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid of the present invention mainly includes (1) discharging the photographic processing waste liquid to the stock tank, (2) supplying the photographic processing waste liquid from the stock tank to the processing means 40, and (3) controlling the processing means 40. Each matter of operation is important and will be explained in order below.

(1) Discharge of photographic processing waste liquid into stock tank The amount and temperature of photographic processing waste liquid in the stock tanks 30 and 31 are detected by the sensor 22, and the information is sent to the control device 20.
are sequentially stored in the storage unit.

Therefore, when it is detected that the photographic processing waste liquid in the stock tanks 30 and 31 is full, replenishment of the replenisher is prohibited to prevent new photographic processing waste liquid from being discharged, or
Or the stock tank 30 according to the replenishment instruction information of the replenisher.
31 to the treatment means 40 by means of the pump 23; To prevent malfunction, stock tank 3
It is preferable to provide sufficient capacity for the 0-31, or to have multiple stock tanks 30, 31 or reserve tanks.Also, the photographic processing waste liquid should not be treated all at once, but should be treated separately according to the type of photographic processing waste liquid. In the case of the system that processes the liquid, the liquid amount, temperature, etc. are detected for each stock tank 30, 31.

The temperature of the photographic processing waste liquid in the stock tanks 30 and 31 is detected by movable control of the processing means 40, which will be described later.

It is particularly important as information on photographic processing waste liquid for controlling heating temperature.

(2) Waste liquid processing means 40 from the stock tank 30-31
The supply of photographic processing waste liquid from the stock tank 30φ31 to the waste liquid processing means 40 can be controlled in two cases: a single waste liquid processing means 40 and a plurality of waste liquid processing means 40. In the latter case, a plurality of waste liquid treatment means 40 may be prepared, and one or more of them may also serve as a stock tank. In such a case, the photographic processing waste liquid is transferred to the above-mentioned stock tank. As well as emissions.

Each waste liquid in the photographic processing tank is separated into a plurality of waste liquid processing means 40 and discharged, and is basically evaporated by the waste liquid processing means 40 to which it is input.

When there is only one waste liquid treatment means 40, the stock tank 3
In order to prevent the photographic processing waste liquids stored in 0φ31 sections from mixing, another photographic processing waste liquid is supplied after the processing of the previous liquid is completed.

When supplying photographic processing waste liquid from the stock tank 30-31 to the processing means 40, there are two methods: one method is to supply a fixed amount at a time (the amount that can be stored in the waste liquid processing means 40 at a time), and the other is to supply a fixed amount or a variable amount continuously. There is a method of supplying In the former case, the photos are transferred from the stock tanks 30 and 31 to the processing means 40 in accordance with the information detected by the sensor 22 on the amount of photographic processing waste liquid in the stock tanks 30-31 and/or the amount of photographic processing waste liquid in the processing means 40 detected by the sensor 24. Controls the supply of treated waste liquid. In this case, control may be performed in accordance with information detected by a flow meter provided in the photographic processing waste liquid supply pipe from the stock tank 30-31 to the processing means 40.

In the case of a method that continuously supplies a fixed amount or a variable amount,
The amount of the photographic processing waste liquid to be supplied is adjusted according to the temperature of the photographic processing waste liquid to be supplied and the temperature of the heating means 41 or the processing chamber 42 of the processing means 40. Further, the amount of photographic processing waste liquid to be supplied is always constant, the amount of photographic processing waste liquid in the processing means 40 is detected by the sensor 24, and the heating temperature of the heating means 411, for example, a heater, is controlled to increase or decrease according to the detected amount, or The heating time may be controlled to increase or decrease.

(3) Operation of the processing means 40 As described in the previous section, the operation of the processing means 40 is controlled by the difference between the amount of photographic processing waste liquid supplied and the amount of processed photographic processing waste liquid, or the amount of residual photographic processing waste liquid. It is carried out according to the amount of photographic processing waste liquid or the amount of photographic processing waste liquid that has been processed and concentrated or dried.

In addition, in the case where the photographic processing waste liquid is supplied in a fixed amount at a time to the processing means 40, if the temperature of the supplied photographic processing waste liquid and the temperature of the heating means 41 or the processing chamber 42 are detected, the processing is started. The operation of the processing means 40 can be controlled by time. This control method can be applied to both concentrating and drying photographic processing waste liquid, but in the case of the former, the lower limit level of photographic processing waste liquid in the processing chamber 42, steam temperature, pressure, weight, conductivity, The operation of the photographic processing waste liquid processing means 40 may be stopped or switched to low energy operation when the photographic processing waste liquid is concentrated to a certain concentration by detecting the turbidity or transmittance, viscosity, temperature outside the apparatus, etc. .

In the latter case, the operation of the waste liquid treatment means 40 may be stopped or switched to low energy operation at the stage of drying by detecting the steam temperature, weight, and temperature outside the apparatus.

In this specification, "concentration" refers to reducing the volume of waste liquid to one-half or less of the volume when it comes out of the photographic processing tank, preferably one-fourth or less from the viewpoint of disposal, and more preferably five-fold or less. It is less than 1/10, and optimally it is 1/10.

When e&I2i is used, precipitation or tar is generated, and the liquid as a whole is fluid, or the liquid is a concentrate.

In order to recover silver salts from concentrated photographic processing waste, for example, electrolysis method (Buddhist Patent No. 2.299,687) is used.
Specification), precipitation method (JP-A-52-73037, German Patent No. 2,331.220).

Ion exchange method (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 51-17114, German Patent No. 2,548.237) and metal substitution method (British Patent No. 1)
．． 353,805), etc., but by dividing and concentrating the photographic processing waste liquid containing substantially silver according to the present invention, it becomes possible to efficiently recover silver.

(Hereinafter, blank spaces) Next, a method for treating photographic processing waste liquid according to the present invention and an apparatus most suitable for carrying out the method of the present invention will be explained according to FIGS. 2 to 17.

The external shape of the device of the present invention depends on whether it is built into an automatic processor or installed near it.
The design may be changed in various ways according to the specific configuration or arrangement of each device or means described below.

The processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes a waste liquid supply means 100, an evaporation means 200. Heat exchange means 300. A filtration means 400 for filtering condensed water, an exhaust means 500 for treating non-condensed components and discharging them to the outside, and an air inlet means 600 for introducing air into the evaporation means. It has an ozone supply means 700,
Each part will be explained in detail below.

Around the processing chamber 410 in which the evaporation means 200 is installed,
To prevent burn accidents, etc., and heat retention and heat exchange means 30
It is preferable that a heat insulating material such as glass wool or expanded polystyrene be placed in the processing chamber 4 for the purpose of preventing the influence on the
The internal shape or external shape of 10 can be arbitrarily designed such as a rectangular shape or a cylindrical shape.

The photographic processing waste liquid to be processed is transferred to the evaporation means 2 in the processing chamber 210.
The waste liquid supplying means 100 for supplying the waste liquid to the evaporation means 200 may be a method in which a pipe is connected to a guide pipe 101 leading into the evaporation means 200 and the waste liquid overflowed and discharged from the photographic processing tank of an automatic processor is directly supplied, or A system in which the waste liquid stored in the buffer tank 3031 described above is supplied by a pump, a system in which a funnel is set in the guide tube 101 and the waste liquid is manually supplied as shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. The circulation part employs a system that uses a device that utilizes the siphon phenomenon (the so-called bird water only system), in which liquid is automatically supplied as the liquid level in the container 430 decreases, and furthermore, a system that surrounds the evaporation means is adopted. Open the frame door or top cover and
The waste liquid to be treated may be supplied manually, or a combination of manual and fully automatic supply methods may be used. For reasons such as less leakage, an automatic feeding system is preferred, and a bird hydraulic system is particularly preferred.

Further, the buffer tank 30, 31 may be made into a portable structure and connected to the guide pipe 101 etc. to supply the waste liquid to be treated. In such a case, the bottom of the buffer tank may be provided with a If you install a movable valve that returns.

This is preferable because the supply of waste liquid automatically starts when the device is installed.

To prevent backflow, the guide tube 101 is preferably sealed with a lid or stopper, a solenoid valve, or the like outside the waste liquid supply means.

In the present invention, a batch processing method is preferably used, in which an amount of waste liquid less than the capacity of the apparatus for one treatment is supplied for each treatment, that is, a batch processing method.

This is because there is no need for a sensor to detect the amount of waste liquid in the device, so the device can be constructed at low cost and simple.

Next, the arrangement and attachment/detachment of the container 220 for storing photographic processing waste liquid to be processed will be explained.

In the case of a system in which an opening/closing door is disposed on the side wall of the processing chamber 210 and only the container 220 is taken out, Figs. 5 and 6 are used.
As shown in the figure, a hook part is formed on the upper part of the container 220 and engaged with a locking part prepared in the processing chamber 210, or as shown in FIG. 7, a through hole is prepared. It may also be engaged with a clasp.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, elevating means using, for example, a screw mechanism or a pantograph mechanism is arranged to raise and lower the container 220.
is lifted so that the lower end of a waste liquid scooping means 230, which will be described later, is immersed in the waste liquid.

In cases where the side wall or upper part of the processing chamber 210 is releasable, the container 220 can be pulled out to the top or outside of the processing chamber 210 to supply waste liquid to be treated and to discharge treated waste liquid. can.

Although not shown, if a bag made of nylon, polyamide or other synthetic resin, aluminum foil, or the like is prepared in the container 220, the concentrated waste liquid can be taken out and
It becomes possible to dispose of it. In addition, when carrying out as vaginal fluid, for example, it is preferable to add a liquid-absorbing resin to atomize the fluid, since this has the effect of reducing the odor of the remaining concentrated waste fluid.

The discharge bag is resistant to high temperatures of about 100 to 400°C, and 6-nylon, 8.8-nylon, and polyamide bags are preferably used. These bags may be used in place of open bags for home cooking or used in microwave ovens.

Next, the photographic processing waste liquid scooping means 330 will be explained.

This means includes a container 22 provided at the bottom of the processing chamber 210.
The waste liquid collected in the waste liquid is guided upward by adhering to or impregnated with a belt, rotating drum, cloth, twisted yarn, etc. partially immersed in the waste liquid, increasing the surface contact with air and preventing evaporation. It is something that promotes.

When using a belt, it is preferable to use an endless belt (for example, a bell driven by a motor) 231
The lower end of the belt 231 is immersed in the photographic processing waste liquid in the container 220, and the waste liquid adheres to or impregnates the surface of the belt 231 and is scooped up.

As the material of the belt 231, it is preferable to use nonflammable carbon, inorganic fibers such as glass fiber, or aramid fibers.

Instead of the belt 231, there are many holes on one surface, n.

A plate or rod made of metal, ceramics, or synthetic resin with pleats or the like fixed to a chain or belt may also be used.

Furthermore, it is also permissible to form irregularities on the surface of the belt 231, and to form these irregularities with a material different from the material of the main body of the belt 231, such as metal.

The surface of the bell) 231 is preferably black in order to improve heat absorption.

In addition to the loop shown in FIG. 2, the belt 231 may be formed into various loops as shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, a squeezing or scraping means 232 may be provided in the middle of the loop to collect the concentrated or dried solid material, or a plurality of loops may be connected in succession and the squeezed or scraped concentrate may be used for the next step. It may also be supplied to a stage concentration step.

The scraping means is a plate-shaped material made of metal or synthetic resin that scrapes the concentrated or dried photographic waste liquid. This is to prevent the water from returning to the photographic waste liquid containing too much water. Thereby, the evaporation process of the photographic waste liquid can be carried out continuously, making the processing of the photographic waste liquid extremely efficient and convenient for the user.

To attach the belt 231, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a support frame 233 fixed to the side wall or ceiling (including the lid) of the processing chamber 210 is prepared, and the belt 231 is attached. Both ends or one end of the shaft should be fixed and installed.

The support frame 233 is fixed to the processing chamber 2 with screws or the like.
In addition to the type that is attached to the side wall of the processing chamber 210, for example, a type in which a guide rail is arranged on the side wall of the processing chamber 210, and the type that can be moved up and down, left and right, diagonally, etc. along the guide rail is included.

When using a guide rail, the scooping means 230 can be moved in the vertical direction and connected to a drive system such as a gear, and the lower end of the belt 231 can be immersed in the waste liquid in the container 220. When taking out the container 220, the scooping means 230 is moved upward to release the container 220, thereby allowing the container 220 to be taken out in the horizontal direction.

In order to obtain the above operation, it is also possible to form a notch in the support frame 233 in which the ends of the shafts of the belt engage, so that each shaft can be attached and detached separately.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 12, external air is introduced into the heat exchange means through a pipe, and steam is circulated by a fan. It is similar to

Next, according to FIGS. 13 to 15, the scooping means 2
As 30, a one-type drum dryer using a rotating drum 234 will be described.

The rotating drum 234 is made of metal, ceramic, glass, or synthetic resin material that has been surface-treated to prevent corrosion, or has a function of impregnating the waste liquid with fabric 1 synthetic resin foam or the like on the surface. This includes those to which a member is attached, with irregularities formed on the surface. In particular, those made of titanium or stainless steel are preferably used.

To attach the rotating drum 234, e.g.

As shown in FIG. 14, it is also a preferable example to prepare a support frame 233 that engages with the guide rail so that it is movable in the vertical direction and linked to, for example, gears of a drive system.

Note that the mounting structure of the one-rotation drum 234 and the configuration of the drive system are not limited to those shown in FIG. 5, but can be designed in various ways.

Further, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the scraping means 232 is disposed on the one-rotation drum 234, as in the case of the belt system.

Next, a method of pumping up the waste liquid stored in the container 220 using capillary phenomenon will be described.

In this method, a fabric made of natural fibers such as cotton, synthetic fibers, glass fibers, or inorganic fibers is dropped from a support frame placed in a processing chamber 210, and its lower end is immersed in the waste liquid in a container 220. 1. It evaporates the waste liquid that has risen due to capillary action. In this method, it is possible to simply drop the photographic liquid into the photographic waste liquid, and since no drive system is required, a simple device is possible.

The material to be used is preferably cotton, particularly cotton sheeting. Twisted yarn may be used instead of cloth.
In addition, a member having the same strength as a capillary tube may be formed by laminating metal plates, etc. In such a case,
It is preferable to use a metal plate or the like that generates heat, or a metal plate that is 111R treated and can be easily disassembled in consideration of maintenance.

Furthermore, in relation to the structure of the air inflow means into the evaporation means 200, which will be described later, a weight may be attached to the lower end of the fabric, or a lower end fixing member may be used to fix the disposed fabric or twisted yarn. It is preferable to prevent it from becoming unevenly distributed due to wind pressure.

Next, the heating means 240 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, as the heating means 240, it is preferable to use, for example, a ceramic heater placed under the container 210, but the type, shape, and number of heating means 240 can be selected arbitrarily. A heater is particularly preferably used.

Preferably, the heating means of the present invention includes a heating means disposed outside the means for collecting the photographic processing waste liquid, or a heating means immersed in the collected photographic processing waste liquid. As a heating means,
Near-infrared heaters, hot air heaters, quartz tube heaters,
Examples include pipe heaters, plate-shaped heaters, etc., but from the viewpoint of evaporation efficiency, a method in which a chrome wire is heated with a near-infrared heater or a hot air type heater, air is blown to create hot air, and heating is performed by this hot air is particularly preferred.

(belt) 231 or the plate/rod itself in place of the belt may be made of a heating element, or the heating element may be attached to the belt 231, and the shaft to which the belt 231 is attached may have a power generation capacity of 8 m. It's okay to have belt 231! 5? It may also be heated by sandwiching it between heat drums or heating plates.

The heating means 240 may be housed inside the rotating drum 234, or the heating means 240 may be immersed in the waste liquid stored in the container 220.

Furthermore, the heating means 240 may be plate-shaped or rod-shaped.

A type that uses a heating element such as a spiral and evaporates the waste liquid to be treated by spraying or dropping it onto the heating element (so-called spray dryer one-type). The waste liquid is stored in a container and evaporated using other heating means, or the flow path is formed entirely or partially with a heating element, and the waste liquid is caused to flow down this flow path and evaporate. Included. In the latter case, the flow path can be configured in various ways, such as a spiral, a step, a shelf, etc.

Note 1: In the case of a method in which the heating element and waste liquid (including evaporated liquid) come into direct contact, surface treatment such as fluororesin treatment, that is, Teflon treatment, is required to prevent the waste liquid from sticking to the surface of the heating element. It is preferable to do this.

Furthermore, the heating means 240 is configured to blow the waste air from the drying section of the automatic developing machine as it is, or to blow further heated high-temperature air onto the surface of the bell 231 or the liquid surface of the waste liquid, or into the waste liquid. You can also do that.

In the case of the above configuration, instead of using the waste air from the drying section of the automatic developing machine, an independently provided heated air generating means may be used as described later.

In these cases, the heated air is preferably dehumidified dry high temperature air.

Next, the heat exchange means 300 will be explained.

This means cools and condenses the vapor generated by the evaporation means 200. Although FIG. 2 shows a cooling method in which steam is guided through a tube with radiation fins on its outer surface and air-cooled by a fan 310, it is not limited to this method.・It is also possible to use one that uses gas.

Further, the waste liquid stored in the buffer tank for the primary treatment may be used as a refrigerant to also serve as preheating.

The pipe that guides the steam may be formed into a double pipe, and the steam and refrigerant may be sent in to condense the steam.Also, in such a system, radiation fins may be placed around the pipe. It is also preferable to provide one.

Note that it is preferable that the inner wall of the pipe through which the steam flows is surface-treated with Teflon or the like to prevent sticking of photographic processing waste liquid or corrosion of the pipe.

Next, a filtration means 400 that is preferably used for treating condensed water or distilled water will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 12, 16, and 17.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filtration means 400 for filtering condensed water is formed by a replaceable filter unit. This is because, as mentioned above, harmful gas components are dissolved in the condensed water, or components with a large pollution load are mixed, so it is necessary to replace or maintain the filling in the filtration means. This is because it has the advantage of being extremely easy to perform.

Examples of the filler in the filtration means include sand, activated carbon, glass beads, ion exchange resins, adsorption resins, kynor fibers, aracid fibers, etc., and activated carbon is particularly preferably used. Among activated carbons, granular ones are preferably used, particularly those with particle diameters in the range of 0.5 to 10 cm, especially activated carbon with particle diameters in the range of 1 to 5 layers. Particularly preferably, it is used from the viewpoint of the desired effect of the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, ozone is supplied into the filtering means for filtering condensed water. As mentioned above, the filtration means contains a filler, and when ozone is supplied into the filtration means, it has the effect of activating or regenerating the filler, thereby significantly extending the lifetime of the filler. have.

In the filtering means 400 shown in FIG. 2, 11! Overroom 41
0 is different from the filtration means 400 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 420 denotes a filter, and one or a combination of two or more of various filters used for sewage treatment, such as filters using activated carbon, zeolite ion exchange resin, adsorption resin, and other adsorbents, is used. Among these, activated carbon is preferred from the viewpoint of adsorption capacity and cost.

As shown in FIG. 17, the filter 420 is a filter unit in which adsorbent is arranged in artificial or natural fibers, or in which adsorbent is housed in honeycomb-shaped small compartments and the upper and lower parts are covered with cloth or the like. and filtration chamber 410
It is preferable that the filters 420 be stored in multiple stages and sealed so that they can be easily replaced.Furthermore, the filters 420 may be arranged in a multilayered structure as shown in the figure, or in various ways such as in a tilted and stepped structure. is allowed to do so.

Next, a description will be given of the exhaust means 500 for removing and discharging to the outside odor or harmful components that do not condense or dissolve in the condensed water and are in a gaseous state even after passing through the heat exchange means 300.

If conventional waste liquid processing equipment by concentration or drying is used as a processing equipment for photographic processing waste liquid, the heating by the evaporation means will promote the generation of foul odors or harmful components, and if released as is, it will cause discomfort to the neighborhood. Because of this risk, it is not preferable to incorporate it into an automatic processor or install it nearby.

Furthermore, even in the case of a method in which steam is condensed by heat exchange means and disposed of as condensed water, malodorous or harmful components that are not condensed by the heat exchange means or dissolved in the condensed water remain as gases, so what can be done to dispose of them? If it is released without treatment, there is a risk that it will cause discomfort to the neighborhood, similar to the above. Furthermore, since it contains substances with a large pollution load such as benzyl alcohol, it is practically impossible to discharge it into sewers or rivers.

In the apparatus of the present invention, in view of the above, the heat exchange means 30
Disposal means 500 is provided for removing malodorous or harmful components that do not condense or dissolve even after passing through zero.

As the exhaust means 500, gas adsorption means using a filter made of activated carbon, zeolite, or other adsorbent is preferably used.

Since these adsorbents require gas flowability, granular ones are preferably used, and those with particle diameters in the range of 0.5 to 10 m are particularly preferable, particularly 1 to 5 m. Adsorbents having a particle size within the range of 100 to 200 ml are particularly preferred and used from the viewpoint of the desired effects of the present invention.

It is preferable that the exhaust means 500 is located midway between the heat exchange means 300 and the filtration means 400, or above the filter unit in the filtration means 400.

The exhaust means 500 of the present invention satisfies the requirements of a non-sealed pressure device and the prevention of leakage of bad odors or harmful components. serves as a pressure relief function, and conversely, when the pressure inside the device drops below atmospheric pressure, air will flow in from the outside via the exhaust means 500.

It should be noted that the pressure inside the device increases rapidly, and the exhaust means 50
It is also preferable to provide a separate safety mechanism to prevent pressure escape depending on the situation.

Next, the air inflow means 600 will be explained.

This means reheats the gas, mainly air, which passes through the heat exchange means 300 and does not condense by a heater 610 and supplies it into the processing chamber 210 by a fan 620 to promote the evaporation of the waste liquid in the evaporation means 200. It reprocesses bad smells and harmful components.

A particularly good effect is obtained when the heated air is a non-condensed component which has passed through the heat exchange means.

Most of the condensed components such as water and organic solvents in the photographic waste liquid components gasified by the evaporation process are condensed in the heat exchanger, but the remaining non-condensed components, such as air sulfite gas and ammonia gas, are re-heated with air. It is preferable to use it as a filter because it prevents odors from being released to the outside.

When external air is used as heated air, it is more preferably used in the present invention to pre-dry it in order to obtain as high evaporation efficiency as possible. More specifically, a desiccant such as silica gel, niline pentoxide, anhydrous calcium chloride, anhydrous calcium sulfate, dehydrite, anhydrone, or anhydrous copper sulfate is used in the external air intake.

Furthermore, when using external air, it is preferable to preheat it in advance using the heat of the heat exchange section or the evaporation processing section from the viewpoint of thermal efficiency, and a method in which heat exchange is performed in the heat exchange section is particularly preferably used. .

Note that the air to be introduced may be heated air used for air cooling in the heat exchange means 300, air used in, for example, a drying process in an automatic developing machine, or completely external air.

It is preferable that the air by the air inflow means 600 is not only supplied into the processing chamber 210, but also directly hits one of the parts in the evaporation means 200, for example, the belt 231 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is preferable to provide a guide plate 630 so that the front, rear, left, and right sides of the belt 231 are evenly exposed to air.

Note that the pressure inside the processing chamber 210 is high, and the air inflow means 60
Preferably, an anti-reflux valve is provided to prevent steam from flowing back through the 0.

Next, the ozone supply means 700 will be explained. This means
For example, air containing ozone generated by an ultraviolet lamp or an ozone generator using high-voltage discharge is pumped into the processing chamber 210, the heat exchange means 300, or the filtration means 400 before and/or afterward. It is supplied into the condensed water in the water to accelerate the oxidative decomposition of gases or organic solvents containing foul odors or harmful components.

Incidentally, as long as the ozone generator does not generate sparks and there is no danger of ignition and explosion, it can be installed in the piping of the apparatus of the present invention and the pump for supplying ozone can be omitted.

The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus of the present invention may newly incorporate one or more of the following malodor treatment methods or devices, or may be substituted for the malodor treatment means in the above embodiments.

■Chemical reaction method % Formula % Most things are decomposed by direct combustion at 600℃~1000℃.

AO2-catalytic combustion Same as direct combustion at 150℃~400℃ obtain the effect of

AO3-interfacial combustion Bad odor at the interface of heated filling numbers, etc. Pyrolyzes gas.

B. Oxidation and neutralization absorption BOI-Ozone oxidation Oxidative decomposition and masking at room temperature Effects can also be obtained.

BO2-ozone catalytic oxidation Oxidative decomposition at room temperature and residual ozone It has the advantage of being able to process at the same time.

BO3-chlorine gas Decomposes and deodorizes with the oxidizing power of chlorine Ru.

BO4-hydrogen peroxide liquid Oxygen in hydrogen peroxide generator Decomposes by oxidation.

It is also preferable to use it in combination with a metal catalyst. stomach.

BO3-Other oxidizing agents such as liquid potassium permanganate Decomposes and deodorizes with an oxidizing agent.

BO6-balogen alkaline liquid Halogenated sodium subzincate, etc. Decomposes and deodorizes with compound and alkaline solution Ru.

BO7-Water wash Water-soluble substances by washing with water Dissolves and deodorizes.

It also has a condensing cooling effect.

BO3-acid liquid Neutralize alkaline substances.

BO9-alkali washing Neutralize acidic substances.

BIO-Activated carbon suspension alkaline liquid Sulfurized water due to the catalytic oxidation power of activated carbon It has a large oxidizing effect on elements such as

B11-chelate catalyst alkaline liquid 0 e.g. iron absorbed in alkaline solution Hydrogen sulfide etc. using chelate as a catalyst Oxidize.

B12-Spray neutralization Used to neutralize specific gases.

B13-ion exchange Exchange group for acidic and alkaline substances.

Or neutralize and adsorb with the aid of an adsorbent. Ru. Adsorption (porous) effect of neutral substances There is also.

B14-adsorption activated carbon Due to the adsorption effect of activated carbon and adsorption chemicals, Deodorize by performing a neutralization reaction.

■Biochemical reactions C1 microbial treatment C0I-Soil Decomposed by bacteria in the soil Ru. and adsorption to soil.

CO2-activated sludge Bacterial extraction and toxicity in water Decomposed by neutralizing (enzymatic) action Ru.

CO3-photosynthetic bacteria Reaction heat produced by photosynthetic bacteria Understand.

CO4-compost Microorganisms and adsorption in compost Deodorizes.

D. Physiological reaction 001-Masking Reducing crop losses due to the coexistence of odorous substances Deodorize by use.

■、Physical action E, adsorption EOI-activity adsorption Capable of large volume processing at room temperature, concentrated You can also expect good results.

BO2-zeolite adsorption It has the same effect as activated carbon.

BO3-cooling During cooling and condensation, malodorous substances dissolve in water. Insert.

F. Electricity FOI-polymer membrane Separates malodorous substances based on the difference in permeability Concentrate.

FO2-corona discharge Charges and collects malodorous substances with high voltage. Ru.

G, others Gol-dilution method, sealing method Reduces odor level by mixing with odorless air Ru. The source of the odor is solid or odorless gas. or liquid.

Contains foul-smelling gas.

To explain the process of evaporating photographic processing waste liquid using the above-mentioned apparatus, the photographic processing waste liquid discharged from the photographic processing tank by overflow or the like to be treated is preferably separated and collected for each photographic processing liquid, and is collected by the supply means 100. The amount is supplied to the container 220 all at once or in small amounts by opening the processing chamber 210, and the scooping means 230 is activated.
The waste liquid adhering to or impregnated in the heat exchanger 231 is heated by the heating means 240 and the air inflow means 60o, and the evaporated waste liquid is guided to the heat exchange means 300 and condensed. Distilled water and condensed water are discharged into an external container or the like through the filtering means 400.

On the other hand, malodorous or harmful components that have not condensed or dissolved after passing through the heat exchange means 300 are reintroduced into the processing chamber 210 via the air inlet means 600 or are discharged via the exhaust means 500.

It goes without saying that the photographic processing waste liquid to be processed according to the present invention is not limited to the overflow liquid from the processing tank, but also includes the photographic processing waste liquid extracted from the bottom of the processing tank for purposes such as replacing the processing liquid with a new one.

Further, the treatment of condensed water or distilled water is performed using the filtering means 400.
However, any processing means that can be discharged or reused (eg, used as dissolving water for a photographic processing solution) can be used.

The present inventors conducted various studies and found that 1. In the photographic processing waste liquid processing method and processing apparatus of the present invention, when the surface tension of the photographic processing waste liquid is 20 cm to 65 d7ne/c■, bumping phenomenon occurs during evaporation processing. It was found that this is a different effect that is extremely unlikely to occur. In particular, the surface tension is 25~
60 d7ns/c■, the above effect is particularly well achieved. The surface tension of this photographic processing waste liquid is within the evaporation means of the present invention or /! 4 It is sufficient that the surface tension is reached before being fed by hand.To achieve this surface tension,
Any method may be used.1 For example, if a so-called detonator such as an organosiloxane or a higher alcohol, a surfactant, etc. are added to the photographic processing waste liquid during or before the evaporation process and controlled within the above range. The tension may be controlled within the above range using a surfactant that is eluted from the photosensitive material to be processed.

The surface tension is described in [Analysis and Testing Methods of Surfactants] (co-authored by Fumio Kitahara, Shigeo Hayano, and Betsu Hara, published March 1, 1982,
(1) In the present invention, the surface tension value is measured by a general measuring method at 20°C.

Furthermore, the present inventors have conducted various studies and found that in the photographic processing waste liquid processing method and processing apparatus of the present invention, the photographic processing waste liquid contains an organic acid ferric complex salt and a thiosulfate, and [organic acid ferric complex salt] iron complex]/[thiosulfate] (weight ratio) is 0.
1 to 2.5, the generation of harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide gas is small, and it has been found that there is another effect in that the evaporated concentrate or dried product is less likely to stick to the distillation pot or lifting means.

In particular, this effect is particularly good when the ratio of [ferric organic acid complex salt]/[thiosulfate] is 0.3 to 1.6. These organic acid ferric complex salts and thiosulfates will be described in detail in Examples below.

(Margins below) [Experimental Examples] The present invention will be described in detail below using experimental examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereby.

After printing Sakura Color SR paper (manufactured by Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.), continuous processing was performed using the following processing steps and processing solution.

Standard processing steps (1) Color development 38℃ 3 minutes (2) Bleach fixing 38℃ 1 minute 30 seconds (3) Stabilization treatment
25℃~35℃ 3 minutes (4) Drying 75℃~1
00'C approx. 2 minutes Processing solution composition [Color development tank solution] Benji J Real Alcohol 15-J1 Ethylene Glycol 15m Potassium Sulfite 2.0g Potassium Bromide
1.3g sodium chloride
0.2g potassium carbonate
24.0g3-methyl-4-amino-N
-Ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl) Aniline sulfate kM4, 5 g Fluorescent brightener (4,4”-diaminostilbendisulfonic acid derivative) (trade name: Keikol PK-Conc (manufactured by Shin Nisso Kako Co., Ltd.) ) 1.0g hydroxylamine sulfate 3.0g 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-niphosphonic acid 0.4g hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid 5.0g magnesium chloride/6 water a!0.7g 1.2-dihydroxybenzene-3 , 5-disulfonic acid disodium salt 0.2g of water is added to bring the volume to 1, and potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid are added to bring the volume to 10.20.

[Color developer replenisher] Benzyl alcohol 20 ■ Ethylene glycol 20 ■ Potassium sulfite 3.0 g Potassium carbonate
24.0g hydroxylamine sulfate m 4.0g 3-methyl-4-amino-N
-Ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl) Aniline sulfate fi, 0g Fluorescent brightener (4,4-diaminostilbendisulfonic acid derivative) (Product name: Keikol PK-Conc (manufactured by Shin Nisso Kako Co., Ltd.) ) 2.5 g 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-niphosphonic acid 0.5 g Hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid 1% l' 5,0 g
Magnesium chloride hexahydrate 0.8g! ,2
-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid disodium salt 01g Add water to make 111, and adjust to pH 10.70 with potassium hydroxide.

[Bleach-fixing tank solution] Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ferric ammonium dihydrate 6G, 0g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 3.0g ammonium thiosulfate (70% solution) 100.0s J1 ammonium sulfite (40% solution) 27.5mM Add water to make total volume Adjust the pH to 11 with potassium carbonate or glacial acetic acid.
Adjust to 7.1.

[Bleach-fixing replenisher A] Ferric ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate 260.0g Potassium carbonate 42.0g Add water to bring the total volume to ml.

6. The pl+ of this solution was adjusted using acetic acid or aqueous ammonia.
7±0.1.

[Bleach-fix replenisher B] Ammonium thioWL acid (70% solution) 5 (lo,
omjL ammonium sulfite (40% solution) 25
0.0mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 17
．． 0g glacial acetic acid 85.0s
Add u water to make the total amount In.

The pH of this solution was adjusted to 5.3 using acetic acid or aqueous ammonia.
It is ±0.1.

[Water washing alternative stable tank liquid and replenisher] Ethylene glycol 1.0g 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one 0.02g1-
Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-niphosphonic acid (60% aqueous solution) 1.0 g ammonia water (ammonium hydroxide 25% aqueous solution) 2. (1g
Make it 141 with water and add 50% sulfuric acid! Let it be H7.0.

Fill an automatic processor with the above color developing tank solution, bleach-fixing tank solution and stabilizing tank solution, and add the above color developing replenisher and bleach-fixing replenisher A every 3 minutes while processing the Sakura Color SR vapor sample. A running test was conducted while replenishing B and stable replenisher through a metering cup. The amount of replenishment is 190 mm per color paper tri' to the color development tank, 50mM each of bleach-fixing replenisher A and B to the bleach-fixing tank, and 50mM of bleach-fixing replenisher A and B each to the stabilizing tank. The replenisher was refilled 2501 times. The stabilization tanks of the automatic processor are the first to third tanks in the direction of sample flow, and the final tank is replenished and the overflow liquid from the final tank is allowed to flow into the previous tank. Furthermore, a multi-tank countercurrent system was adopted in which this overflow liquid also flows into the preceding tank.

Continuous processing was carried out until the total replenishment amount of the water washing substitute stabilizing solution was three times the capacity of the stabilizing tank.

Hereinafter, an experimental example using an overflow liquid through the above processing will be explained. In the following description, the overflow liquid of the color developing solution is abbreviated as CD waste liquid, the overflow liquid of the bleach-fixing liquid is abbreviated as BF waste liquid, and the overflow liquid of the stabilization processing liquid is abbreviated as sb waste liquid.

Experimental Example 1: First, the chemical composition of each waste liquid was analyzed, and the main components were as follows.

CD waste liquid: a, benzyl alcohol b, potassium carbonate C1 sulfite (ammonium salt or potassium salt) d1 color developing agent e, hydroxylamine f, optical brightener g, ethylene glycol BF waste liquid: a, EDTA iron complex salt b, thio Sulfate (ammonium salt or potassium 111) C, silver complex salt d, sulfite e, ammonium bromide salt (Note: In the case of a tank configuration in which bleaching and fixing are performed in separate tanks,
EDTA iron complex salts and ammonium bromide salts were detected in the bleaching waste solution, and thiosulfates and sulfites such as ammonia salts and sodium salts were detected in the fixing waste solution. ) sb waste liquid: ammonium compound These photographic processing waste liquids were mixed and evaporated using an endless belt type evaporation apparatus shown in FIG.

Inside the evaporation container 220 is a microwave oven (for cooking at home)
A nylon bag is installed, and a LKW plate-shaped electric heater is installed at the bottom. Further, the air inflow means 600 is provided with an electric heater that can be varied from 0.5 kW to 2.5 kW. Also, the filtration means 400
The exhaust means 500 contains granular activated carbon having an average particle size of about 21 cm.

When the photographic processing equipment was operated continuously for 10 hours, it produced approximately 16 J.
1 of photographic processing waste liquid can be treated, and the amount of waste liquid that has passed through the filtration means 400 is about 15! I was able to collect L.

When the BOD value of this discharged liquid was measured, it was 80 ppm, and it was colorless and odorless. Furthermore, no odor was detected around the processing equipment.

[Comparative Experiment] Next, when the activated carbon in the filtration means was removed and a similar experiment was conducted, the BOD value of the discharged liquid was 119,601)Ill, was cloudy, and smelled of ammonium and sulfur dioxide gas.

When a similar experiment was conducted with the activated carbon in the exhaust means 500 removed, a foul odor pervaded the vicinity of the processing device. Also, when removing the exhaust means to prevent gas from entering or exiting,
Similarly, a foul odor pervaded the area around the equipment.

Heat exchange means 300 (5US31 as material in experiment 1)
Use 6L, length! , 21 uses a pipe-shaped heat exchange means with a diameter of 20 layers, and heat radiation fins are provided around the pipe. ) was removed and the same experiment as in Experiment 1 was conducted, steam condensed on the granular activated carbon in the exhaust means 500, and the gas adsorption stopped and a foul odor permeated the surrounding area.

[Experiment Example 2] An ozone generator (ozone generator, 0ZGU-75, manufactured by Estech) was installed in the waste liquid treatment device of Experiment Example 1, and the generated ozone was transferred to the heat exchange means 300 using a small pump.
It was introduced at the start of the game.

At this time, the BOD value in the effluent after passing through the filtration means was 60p.
It became pm.

Next, when the same experiment was carried out by introducing it into an ozone filtration means, the BOD value was 55p, -.In addition, in experiment 1, when waste liquid treatment was continued for 10 hours a day for 20 days,
The BOD value of the discharged liquid was 120 ppph after 20 days, but even after 20 days, it maintained an extremely good value of 90111)-, even though ozone was introduced into the flawing means.

[Experimental Example 3] CD and B used in the above experiment using the processing apparatus of Experimental Example 1
A model waste solution was created by mixing F and Sb new solutions at a ratio of 1:1:1.
An experiment similar to Experimental Example 1 was carried out by changing the surface tension from 20 to 70 dyne/c- by using FS Antiform 025) manufactured by Co., Ltd. As a result, the surface tension is 20 to 6 Sdy.
In the range of ne/cm, almost no bumping occurs during evaporation and concentration, but bumping occurs outside this range, causing condensation waste to scatter on the walls of the evaporator, causing contamination. Especially between 25 and 60
When using dyne/c■, the evaporation process was completed without any bumping.

[Experimental Example 4] Using the model photo waste solution used in Experimental Example 3, the amounts of iron ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate and ammonium thiosulfate were varied appropriately (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron ammonium)/(ammonium thiosulfate) (III quantitative ratio)
An experiment similar to Experimental Example 1 was conducted by changing the value from 0 to 5.

As a result, (organic acid ferric complex salt/thiosulfate) or 0.
It has been found that when the value is in the range of 1 to 2.5, the evaporated concentrate or the dried product is less likely to adhere to the endless belt, and the generation of sulfite gas and the like is relatively small. In particular, 0.1-1
．． In the range of 6, it was particularly good.

[Experimental Example 51 A similar experiment was conducted by replacing the endless belt processing apparatus used in Experimental Example 1 with a distillation pot as shown in FIG.

When the processing apparatus was continuously operated for 10 hours, about 1 inch of photographic processing waste liquid could be processed, and other results were the same as in Experimental Example 1.

[Experimental Example 6] A similar experiment was conducted except that the endless belt type processing device used in Experimental Example 1 was replaced with a single drum dryer type.

As a result, almost the same results as Experimental Example 1 were obtained.

However, the size of the device was about 1.5 times that of the endless belt type.

However, the drum was made of 5 us 316 L stainless steel, and the rotation speed was 0.
A material having a surface area of 5×2 was used.

[Experimental Example 7] The scraping means 232 (stainless steel knife) was removed from the endless belt type processing device used in Experimental Example 1, and
In a similar experiment, concentrate accumulated in container 220 and the nylon bag had to be replaced every 10 hours. However, if the scraping means 232 is provided.

There was no need to replace the nylon bag even after 100 hours of processing.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the evaporation treatment apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a number of objectives, especially in photographic processing facilities equipped with one or a small number of automatic processors.
It has the effect of being built into an automatic processor or placed near it, allowing photographic processing waste to be treated under completely or largely automatic control, significantly improving distillation efficiency, and being compact. It is simple, and since the processing means is equipped with a means for gas adsorption of harmful components in the steam and a cooling means, it is advantageous for recovering harmful or malodorous components and reusing distilled water for photographic processing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows an automatic processor and a processing device for photographic processing waste liquid.
Schematic diagrams showing examples; Figures 2, 12, 13, and 15 are schematic diagrams showing photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatuses of the present invention; Figures 3 and 4 are waste liquid supply apparatuses. FIG. FIGS. 5 and 7 are cross-sectional views showing how the waste liquid container is attached. Fig. 6 is a perspective view, Fig. 8 is a side view, Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the belt loop, Fig. 1 θ, Fig. 1
1 and 14 are perspective views of the scooping device. FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the filtration means and exhaust means. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of a filter unit;
It is. In the figure, each symbol indicates the following. 10: Automatic developing machine 1: Replenisher tank 20: Control device 21, 22, 24: Sensor 23: Pump 30, 31: Stock tank 40: Processing device 41: Heating means 42: Processing chamber 43: Discharging means 50: Gas adsorption Means 60: Cooling means 100: Waste liquid supply means 101: Guide tube 200: Evaporation means 21O: Processing chamber 220: Waste liquid container 230: Scooping means 231: Belt 232: Scraping means 233: Support frame 234: Rotating drum 235: Fabric 240: Heating means 300: Heat exchange device 310: Fan 400: Filtration means 500: Exhaust means 600: Air inflow means 61O: Heater 620: Fan 630: Guide plate 700 Niosin supply means

Claims (25)

[Claims] (1) A. Means for supplying photographic processing waste liquid into the evaporating means B. Evaporation means having means for storing the supplied photographic processing waste liquid or processed waste liquid and means for heating; C. Steam generated by the above means. A filtration means E for filtering the condensed water; and an exhaust means for treating and discharging the non-condensed components that have passed through the heat exchange means to the outside. Processing equipment. (2) The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic processing waste liquid is automatically supplied to the means for storing the photographic processing waste liquid in accordance with the output information of a sensor that detects the liquid amount. . (3) The photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing the photographic processing waste liquid is supplied with an amount of waste liquid that is less than the capacity for one processing by the apparatus for each processing. processing equipment. (4) Processing of photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation means heats and evaporates the waste liquid by means of a heating means disposed outside the means for storing the photographic processing waste liquid. Device. (5) The processing apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation means includes a heating means immersed in the collected photographic processing waste liquid. (6) The processing apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation means includes means for scooping up the accumulated photographic processing waste liquid. (7) A processing apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 6, which includes means for heating the photographic processing waste liquid scooped up by the scooping means. (8) The apparatus for treating photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 6, wherein the scooping means is an endless belt. (9) The apparatus for treating photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 6, wherein the scooping means is a rotating drum. (10) The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the scooping means is provided with means for scraping off the concentrated or dried waste liquid. (11) The processing apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation means includes means for pumping up the accumulated photographic processing waste liquid using capillary phenomenon. (12) A processing apparatus for photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 11, further comprising means for heating the photographic processing waste liquid pumped up by the pumping means. (13) The apparatus for processing waste liquid from photographic processing according to claim 1, wherein the evaporating means comprises at least heating means and means for spraying the waste liquid. (14) The photograph according to claim 1 of the patent, characterized in that the means for storing photographic processing waste liquid is provided with a discharge pack, and the concentrated or dried waste liquid is taken out together with the discharge pack. Treatment equipment for processing waste liquid. (15) The apparatus for treating photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that heated air is forced to flow into the evaporating means. (16) The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the heated air contains non-condensed components that have passed through the heat exchange means. (17) The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the heated air is air outside the apparatus. (18) The apparatus for treating photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 17, wherein the external air that is introduced is pre-dried heated air. (19) Processing of photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust means for treating the non-condensed components that have passed through the heat exchange means and discharging them to the outside is a filter means for adsorbing gas. Device. (20) Photographic processing according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust means for processing the non-condensed components that have passed through the heat exchange means and discharging them to the outside also serves as pressure adjustment means within the apparatus. Waste liquid processing equipment. (21) The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filtration means for filtering the condensed water is formed of a replaceable filter unit. (22) The photographic processing waste liquid processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ozone is supplied into the processing chamber in which the evaporation means is arranged. (23) Processing of photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that ozone is supplied into the heat exchange means, or into the preceding or subsequent stage thereof, or into the filtration means for filtering condensed water. Device. (24) The apparatus for treating photographic processing waste liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that ozone is supplied into the filtration means for filtering the condensed water. (25) Heat and evaporate the photographic processing waste liquid or processed waste liquid supplied into the evaporation means, treat the condensed water or distilled water generated by condensation or condensation of the vapor generated by the evaporation, and treat the condensed water or distilled water. A method for treating photographic processing waste liquid, characterized in that non-condensed components other than .