Metol

Metol is a developing agent used in b&w photographic developers. In its pure form, it is a solid rather light-sensitive chemical which is the half sulfate (hemisulfate) salt of N-methyl-p-aminophenol. It is still also commonly known by its old chemical name monomethyl-p-aminophenol hemisulfate.

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Metol is an excellent developing agent for most continuous tone developer applications, and it has been widely used in published developer formulas as well as commercial products. However, it is difficult to produce highly concentrated developer solutions using Metol, and therefore most Metol developers are supplied in dry chemical mix. A developer containing both Metol and hydroquinone is called an MQ developer. This combination of agents provide greater developer activity since the rate of development by both agents together is greater than the sum of rates of developments by each agent used alone ( superadditivity). This combination is very versatile; by varying the quantities of Metol, hydroquinone, restrainer, and adjusting the pH, the entire range of continuous tone developers can be made. Therefore, Metol replaced most other developing agents except for hydroquinone, Phenidone (which is more recent than Metol), and derivatives of Phenidone. Notable formulas include Eastman Kodak D-76 film developer, D-72 print developer, and D-96 motion picture negative developer.

Alfred Bogisch discovered in 1891 that methylated p-aminophenol has more vigorous developing action than p-aminophenol, and Julius Hauff introduced this compound as a developing agent. (Hauff operated a chemical business for which Bogisch worked.) Exact description of Bogisch and Hauff's early Metol is indefinitive, but it is most likely methylated at the ortho position of the phenol group (p-amino-o-methylphenol), rather than at the amino group. Some time after, Metol became to mean N-methylated variety and o-methylated variety had fallen out of use. Aktien-Gesellschaft fuer Anilinfabrikation (AGFA) sold this compound under trade name Metol and it became by far the most common name, followed by Eastman Kodak's trade name Elon.

Because it has been in use for this purpose for over 100 years and often by amateur photographers, there is a wide body of evidence about the health problems that contact with Metol can cause. These are principally local dermatitis of the hands and fore-arms as well as some evidence of sensitization dermatitis in which subsequent exposure triggers of a chronic condition that is resistant to medication. The use of Metol in highly caustic solutions and the presence of other materials in darkrooms that have been implicated in dermatitis such as Cr(VI) salts may exacerbate some health impacts.

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